TONIGHT See page 23
Vol. 67 NO. 29 n JULY 17, 2014
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Grand plans for Girard Estate landmark
DIFFerence makers
n The South Philly Review is seeking nominations from its loyal readers for the 2014 class of Difference Makers to be profiled this fall Visit southphillyreview. com.
sPOrTs
Repaving the walkways, replacing benches and updated lighting are some of the changes that will help to improve the bones of Girard Park. Photo
by
RichaRd baRnes
Thanks to city funding, a popular neighborhood park, is getting a fresh look including a garden dedicated to a deceased Court of Common Pleas judge. n By Amanda L. Snyder Review Contributor
V n A Whitman resident is quickly becoming a standout baseball player. See page 28.
innie DeFino fondly remembered his father Tuesday, noting the former teacher’s aptitude for educating others, including his own family at the dinner table, his dedication to his job on the bench by spending Sundays reviewing case files and his love of walking through his Girard Estate neighborhood. “He was an amazing man,” DeFino, a resident of 20th and Hartranft streets, concluded. His father — Anthony DeFino, the former Court
of Common Pleas judge who died in a November 2013 fire at his home — will be honored 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with a garden dedication. That gathering also will serve as the official announcement of more than $250,000 in city funds slated for infrastructure improvements at Girard Park, 2101 Shunk St. Michael DiBerardinis, the City’s Parks and Recreation commissioner, estimated the project at $280,000, half of which his department has pledged from its capital budget while 2nd District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson will contribute the other half from his capital fund.
Community garden gets a cleanup
“When they work together in unison,” DiBerardinis said of the capital funding, “we can get a pretty good product.” That product will include renovations to what DiBerardinis described as the “bones of the park.” The city will repave about 18,000 square feet of walkways, estimated at $180,000, and replace 20 benches with new high-quality versions with a price tag of $1,500 each. The last component will consist of updated lighting, which will include running new service into the park since the current See GIRARD PARK page 10 >>
Residents came together to spruce up a South of South space.
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