Mayor Nutter Announces Completion of Manayunk Canal Towpath Renovation Project

Philadelphia, February 23, 2012 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the completion of $645,000 in renovations to the Manayunk Canal Towpath. The project was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the City of Philadelphia. The Manayunk Canal Towpath is a key linkage in Fairmount Park’s multi-use recreational trail system. It is also part of the larger Schuylkill River Trail, which will ultimately connect Philadelphia to Pottsville in Schuylkill County via a multi-use trail extending the entire length of the river—a distance of approximately 130 miles.

“The improvement and beautification of our trails and natural lands are vital to the livability of the city” said Mayor Nutter. “The renovated Manayunk Canal Towpath will benefit thousands of cyclists, joggers, runners and pedestrians who rely on a safe and functional recreational trail network. I would like to thank the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for their support of this project.”

The project includes restoration of 2.2 miles of trail with crushed stone on path, improvements to drainage, gateways, re-decking/repairing four bridges, fencing for safety of trail users, paving approaches to bridges and boardwalks with porous paving for stormwater management, bollards and gates, new retaining wall construction at the Leverington Avenue parking lot and tree removal.

“The trail helps keep children and youth safe, active, and healthy by connecting them to the park and the natural world along the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill River” said Michael DiBerardinis, Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources. “The collaborative approach used on this project represents a new way of working at Parks & Recreation; leveraging partnerships and community engagement to create and accomplish bold and innovative projects”

“I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the partnerships that led to the completion of this project,” said DCNR Deputy Secretary John Giordano. “Like many of our projects across Philadelphia, the teaming together of the city, the state and regional organizations are what made this project possible.”

The Manayunk Canal Towpath is one of several capital projects underway in Manayunk:

• The Philadelphia Water Department’s Lower Venice Island project, which will include a brand new multi-million dollar performing arts center to be managed by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

• A joint project between Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Philadelphia Water Department, which will restore flow to the Manayunk Canal.

• A federally funded (TIGER) trail project, sponsored by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, constructing a new portion of Schuylkill River Trail from Shawmont Avenue to Port Royal Avenue and widening the existing trail from Port Royal Avenue to the Montgomery County line.

Mayor Nutter and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Launch TreePhilly and Citywide Tree Giveaway Program

Philadelphia, February 14, 2012– Mayor Michael A. Nutter launched the TreePhilly Initiative: a campaign led by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PP&R) in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Wells Fargo & Company. The campaign directly engages Philadelphia property owners, businesses and neighbors to plant and maintain trees. This initiative will also include a citywide yard tree giveaway, through which residents can request a free yard tree to plant on their private property. Wells Fargo is sponsoring the yard tree giveaway; both Wells Fargo Bank and the Fairmount Park Conservancy will provide marketing and promotional support for the campaign.

“TreePhilly is an investment in our city’s future,” said Mayor Nutter “Our city will be healthier, safer and more attractive as a result of the trees we plant through this program. The TreePhilly campaign is the result of a Greenworks goal to plant 300,000 trees by 2015 and will provide Philadelphians with the knowledge and support they need to successfully plant and care for a new tree. I would like to thank Wells Fargo & Company and the Fairmount Park Conservancy for their support of this important initiative.”

“Our data tells us that the most effective way to reach our ambitious tree planting goal is to engage with communities and neighborhoods to encourage people to plant trees on their own property. TreePhilly gives us the resources and mechanisms to do just that.” said Michael DiBerardinis, Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources.

TreePhilly will galvanize residents, property owners, neighborhood organizations, civic associations, businesses and other partners to reach its goal by offering a number of different programs to allow Philadelphians to get involved with planting trees on both public and private property. By working in neighborhoods throughout the City, TreePhilly and its community partners will be able to plant trees that will benefit these neighborhoods for years to come. PAGE 2

“Wells Fargo is pleased to provide a $75,000 grant to TreePhilly because this program will make Philadelphia more attractive and environmentally sound for generations of future Philadelphians,” said Vince Liuzzi, Wells Fargo’s regional president for Greater Philadelphia/Delaware. “Tree Philly aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship and will further the vision of Philadelphia’s founding father, William Penn, of Philadelphia as a ‘greene country towne.’ ”

Citizens can get involved with TreePhilly by planting and caring for trees on their property, volunteering for a tree planting event in their local park, or sponsoring community service days to plant and maintain trees. For more information, citizens can visit www.TreePhilly.Org or call 215-683-0217.

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About Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Philadelphia Parks & Recreation promotes the wellbeing of the City, its citizens and visitors, by offering beautiful natural landscapes and parks, historically significant resources, high quality recreation centers and athletic programs, along with enriching cultural and environmental programs.

About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 23 on Fortune’s 2011 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

About The Fairmount Park Conservancy The Fairmount Park Conservancy enhances the quality of life of the Greater Philadelphia region through the financial and programmatic support of projects throughout the Fairmount Park System. In partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Philadelphia community, the Fairmount Park Conservancy has raised more than $20 million for capital improvements and innovative programming. For more information, please visit www.myphillypark.org.

Report on Residential Building Energy Efficiency released by Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

The Mayors Office of Sustainability and the Sustainable Business Network are pleased to announce the release of Building Energy Efficiency in Philadelphia: Current Landscape and Recommendations for Increasing Energy Efficiency in Philadelphia’s Housing Stock.