Yesterday, the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation broke ground on the football field in North Philadelphia’s 87-acre Hunting Park thanks to a critical contribution from Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick and his newly formed charity, the Team Vick Foundation.
The $200,000 contribution marks the launch of the Foundation and its first major gift. The field will be named the Team Vick Field.
The $1 million restoration of Hunting Park’s football field is the capstone project of Phase One of the Hunting Park Revitalization Project, a long-term comprehensive plan led by the Fairmount Park Conservancy to transform the park into a safe and well-maintained space that will provide a place for healthy recreation for children and families, bring neighborhoods together and serve as a catalyst for larger neighborhood renewal. Construction of football field the will be completed by late spring 2013.
The football field restoration is also being funded by the City of Philadelphia; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; JAWS Youth Playbook; LISC Philadelphia; The Philly Area Chevy Dealers’ EcoAd through CBS EcoMedia; and The Philadelphia Eagles.
The Hunting Park Football field is home to the North Philly Aztecs youth football program, the first inner city youth football team to win a Pop Warner Championship. With more than 400 athletes in its football and cheerleading programs, the Aztecs are one of the largest youth athletic programs in Philadelphia. Yet, due to its deteriorating condition, the Aztecs have not played a game on their home field in nearly 20 years.
Improvements to the football field include: drainage by elevating the field, new under-field drainage system, re-grading and resurfacing field and play areas, field lighting, installing goal posts and new scoreboard, leveling and paving of new track.
Vick founded the Team Vick Foundation, a non-profit, 501c3 charity to provide second chances and support to individuals and communities who need it most in the summer of 2012. Committed to improving lives and communities, Vick’s vision and leadership is focused on improving livelihoods and communities through public service. This vision led Vick to become involved in the Hunting Park Revitalization Project.
For information about completed projects and future plans for the Hunting Park Revitalization Project, visit the HPRP website. For information about the Fairmount Park Conservancy, visit www.myphillypark.org.
Source: PR Newswire
