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Clark Park is host to a number of large events, such as the Woodland
Avenue Reunion, the Clark Park Music
and Arts Festival, and the Spruce Hill May Fair.
Back in 2001, a committee was formed to address community concerns regarding
parks usage, specifically for permitted events. The Clark Park Quality
of Life Task Force (QOL) included representatives from the Recreation
Dept, the 18th Police District, Friends of Clark Park, the UCD, several
community organizations and a few large event organizers, including the
Clark Park Music & Arts Festival and the Woodland Ave Reunion.
After a series of meetings, guidelines for park usage were developed
and approved by the Recreation Department.
Get Good Advice
Are you a first-time event organizer in Clark Park? You should talk with
experienced event organizers well before your event. They will give practical
answers and valuable tips.
Call the Friends of Clark Park Large Event Committee
– Jonathan Snyder (215-432.7948, jonathan_snyder2003@yahoo.com) or Frank Chance (chancefl@sas.upenn.edu).
If you're interested in organizing any additional large events, please
read the following guidelines.
Available Weekends
Annual community events including the Spruce Hill May Fair, Clark Park
Music & Arts Festival (CPMAF) and the Woodland Ave. Reunion are pre-scheduled
on their regular weekend. Other events will be scheduled on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Permits
Permits for use of Clark Park will be issued for events on Saturdays
and Sundays, but only one event per weekend will permit amplified sound.
Permits are issued by Barbara McCabe, the Parks Coordinator.
Contact her at:
BARBARA McCABE, PARKS COORDINATOR
1515 ARCH ST., 10th FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102
Barbara.McCabe@Phila.Gov
or (215) 683-3679.
Flea Markets
The Department of Recreation has a set of guidelines for people or groups
wishing to conduct a Flea Market at one of their facilities. These guidelines
cover such issues as the permits required, requirements for financial
reporting, and restrictions on items to be sold. Contact Barbara McCabe,
Parks Coordinator, at Barbara.McCabe@Phila.Gov
or (215) 683-3679 to obtain copies of these guidelines and to acquire
the required permits.
Amplified Sound
As stated above, only one event per weekend can have amplified sound.
There can still be an event on Saturday and on Sunday, but only one can
have amplified sound, whether it be music or speech. Also, there can still
be music both days, but one of them must be unplugged.
Amplified sound will be limited to six hours in duration per event. Permit
holder will select a six-hour time slot within the window of 11 a.m.-8
p.m. Time slot will be noted on the permit.
Important Note: The Clark Park Music & Arts
Festival is an exception to this, and has been
grandfathered. Their events will continue to have amplified sound
from 11AM -8PM for their June event and 11AM-7PM for their September event.
Placement of Stages
Amplified sound events scheduled in “A” Park (the north section)
must direct speakers away from Baltimore Ave. residences and toward Chester
Ave. A site map of preferred stage
locations and angles is available on the Friends of Clark Park website.
Films
Films will be given special exception since they must be shown after
dark. Films will not be scheduled the same night as another event, but
could be scheduled the same weekend.
Electric Power
There is an electric power box in the Middle Park near the shed. Friends
of Clark Park has keys to it. Starting at least two weeks before your
event, contact Jonathan Snyder (215-432.7948, jonathan_snyder2003@yahoo.com), Frank Chance (chancefl@sas.upenn.edu) or Director Brad Zinn (215/662-1411)
to arrange for someone to unlock the power box on the day of your event.
Posters and Flyers
Posters or flyers may not be pinned to trees. This damages the trees.
Vehicles
Vehicles are not allowed in Clark Park. With special permission of FoCP, one vehicle per large event can drive into the park to unload and reload heavy equipment. To prevent damage to the paths, grass, and trees, no vehicle may leave the paved walks or remain parked anywhere in the park.
Cleanup
The Organizers' cleanup crew will patrol the area that was used by attendees.
All trash will be bagged and placed in or near a trashcan. Leave Clark
Park cleaner than you found it!
Burnt charcoal refuse cannot be dumped on the ground as it is poisonous.
Organizer must work to see their attendees do not dump ash, and they must
clean up after those who do.
Event producers and residents work together cooperatively to comply
with these guidelines.
The Recreation Department participated fully in the development
of these guidelines, and had final approval of them. We believe that they
represent a reasonable compromise between park users and the neighbors
immediately surrounding the park. We want the park to continue to be a
venue for exciting events and community gatherings. We also want the neighbors
who live near the park to have the peace and relaxation they deserve on
summer weekends.
These guidelines help us to schedule events in a manner
that is more neighbor-friendly by limiting the number of amplified sound
events per weekend and reducing the number of hours of sound per event.
They are a tool for better scheduling, and no one has ever been
denied a permit for the park.
Clark Park has always been a popular park for community
events and festivals. We hope that these guidelines help us continue these
traditions, while protecting the park itself and preserving the equanimity
of the community.
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