Title
Renaming North 33rd Street, between Chestnut and Arch Streets as “Squash Way,” in recognition of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
Body
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, US Squash and SquashSmarts joined together to create the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in the historic Pennsylvania State Armory Building on Drexel University’s campus; and
WHEREAS, US Squash, the world’s oldest national governing body for the sport of squash, was founded in Philadelphia in 1904 and is a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Pan American Squash Federation and the World Squash Federation; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Squash Racquets Association, the world’s oldest squash organization, was founded in Philadelphia in 1903; and
WHEREAS, SquashSmarts, a youth mentoring program and co-founder of the Squash & Education Alliance and the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative, was founded in Philadelphia in 2000 and housed on Drexel’s campus since 2002; and
WHEREAS, The Drexel University Men’s and Women’s Squash Clubs were established in 2005 and achieved varsity status in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Drexel University, US Squash and SquashSmarts have partnered together to host the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Open Squash Championships since 2011; and
WHEREAS, All U.S. Open Squash Championships since 2011 have been played at Drexel University’s Kline & Specter Squash Center in Drexel’s Daskalakis Athletic Center, bringing the excitement of a world-class athletic competition to Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The City and region derive substantial economic benefits from the U.S. Open and a host of other national squash championships including the College Squash Association Men’s and Women’s Team Champions, the U.S. High School and U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championship and the U.S. Junior Open Squash Championship which is the largest individual junior squash tournament in the world; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Open in 2013 became the first Professional Squash Association World Tour Event to offer parity in prize money between women and men, enabling us to live our values by advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
WHEREAS, The Arlen Specter US Squash Center is a transformational catalyst for diversity and inclusion by embracing its community in a way that the game of squash has never done before; and
WHEREAS, Drexel University, US Squash and SquashSmarts through their programs and partnerships at the Arlen Specter Squash Center are providing access to the wonderful life-long game of squash to every citizen in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Drexel, US Squash and SquashSmarts are providing free clinics to teach squash to Philadelphia schoolchildren who will receive mentoring through community squash programs; and
WHEREAS, The Arlen Specter US Squash Center serves as the first permanent home and high performance training center for US Squash National Team members; and
WHEREAS, The Arlen Specter US Squash Center will have significant economic and social impact by making Philadelphia the capital of squash in the United States and North America; and
WHEREAS, The Arlen Specter US Squash Center and Drexel University will feature an unprecedented 25 international singles squash courts, 2 North American Doubles Courts and 2 International Softball Doubles Courts in a one-block radius; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby renames 33rd Street, between Chestnut and Arch Streets as “Squash Way,” in recognition of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
End