$46M grant to improve public parks, Free Library system

William Penn Foundation to enhance childrens'William Penn Foundation to enhance childrens'resources at libraries, renovate seven city parks The city's libraries and parks have received an early Christmas gift -- a $46 million grant from the private William Penn Foundation in honor of its 50th anniversary. The grant allocates $18 million to the Free Library system and $26.6 million to the Fairmount Park Commission, city and foundation officials announced at a press conference yesterday. The grants will increase the Free Library's annual budget by more than 50 percent and the parks budget by over 200 percent. Library officials plan to use the grant money to improve children's departments in the library's branches, including the Walnut Street West branch at 40th and Walnut streets. The improvements will include new books and computers. Park officials, meanwhile, explained that their share of the grant will pay for restoration work in parks around the city, as well as the development of educational programs. Foundation President Harry Cerino said the two gifts grew out of a desire to "touch all of the neighborhoods in the city." "Last year was our 50th anniversary, and after we threw ourselves a party, we decided to do something a little more significant to mark the event," he said. "We figured that the libraries and parks are things that really touch everyone." He added that the library gift was intended to help them "reinvent themselves in the technology age." "All of the libraries will be able to get onto the information superhighway," Cerino said. "But we'll be paying the tolls." Library officials said the grant -- the largest they have ever received -- will help to renovate all of the system's 52 branches. "The money will pay for more books, more computers, and for extra training for our staff on how to better serve the children," explained library spokesperson Cynthia Bayette. She added that 33 libraries will receive major renovations over the grant's three-year duration, while the remaining 19 branches -- which were renovated before the gift was given -- will receive "technology upgrades." In a written statement, Cerino said the gift to the parks system was intended "to fund restoration of the natural areas in seven parks throughout the city belonging to Fairmount Park" and to build a "constituency" for their protection through educational programs. The statement explained the bulk of the parks grant will go toward physical improvements. Specific projects include "restoring stream valleys, woodlands and wetlands by stemming erosion, replacing invasive vegetation, planting new large trees, repairing trails and stabilizing stream banks," the statement concluded. The William Penn Foundation is a private foundation that supports programs for children, youth and families, community improvement, environmental concerns, and arts and culture throughout the Philadelphia region. While the foundation is only the nation's 28th largest philanthropic group, its local focus distinguishes it from all but a few of the larger organizations. Cerino noted that the gift will be funded out of the foundation's direct endowment, and will not reduce its annual grants budget.