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Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, and the Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into lease agreements with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development ("PAID") under which the City would lease to PAID on a project-by-project basis land and facilities in the Fairmount Park system, recreation centers, playgrounds and branches in the Free Library of Philadelphia system (collectively, the "Facilities"), and which would permit PAID to sublease some or all of the individual Facilities on a project-by-project basis to charitable organizations who wish to make capital repairs, renovations, and improvements to the Facilities and then to allow those organizations to operate public programs in them, all in conformity with the Economic Development Financing Law, Act 1967-102 (P.L. 251), as amended, all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Background.
1. The City of Philadelphia owns and manages a vast network of parks in the Fairmount Park system, more than 160 recreation centers and playgrounds, and more than 50 branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
2. The Fairmount Park system, the City's recreation centers and playgrounds, and the Free Library of Philadelphia provide a vast range of recreational, athletic, learning, and creative opportunities that are vital to the health and well-being of Philadelphia citizens.
3. Philadelphia citizens are entitled to first-class, modern, safe, and clean parks, recreation centers and playgrounds, and libraries.
4. Many of the City's parks, recreation centers, and libraries suffer from deferred maintenance and have not been improved or upgraded for far too long.
5. From time to time the City receives requests to lease a park, recreation center, playground or library facility to a charitable orga...
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