SAVE THE MEADOWS
Save the Meadows is a grassroots coalition opposing the privatization and destruction of South Philly’s largest urban woodland in FDR Park. STM organized in 2022 to respond to the City’s flawed and unpopular plan to replace 175 acres of natural land with pay-to-play tournament fields made of toxic artificial turf.
STM advocates for environmental justice, public health, community stewardship, and equal access to our public parks and natural lands, and rejects the false choice between youth athletic fields and preserving vital green space—Philadelphia’s children deserve both.
How you can help save the Meadows!
Commonwealth Court has reversed the lower court’s dismissal of the lawsuit against the FDR Park Plan — so there will be a trial!
STM has committed to providing financial support for the lawsuit. Please consider a donation. Any amount helps! Donate now!
Sign and share this petition to demand that Mayor Parker and City Council STOP the destruction of the FDR Meadows, South Philadelphia's only public green space with urban meadow and woodlands.
Choose your action!
Join the movement, create an action, contact your councilperson, the Mayor’s office, and your state representatives. Your voice matters! Tell them why you believe the FDR Masterplan must be revised! Phone numbers & emails are available here under action #3.
The development and privatization of our public lands is out of control.
The administration’s plan for FDR Park ignores the current needs and desires of the community. It poses serious risks to the environment and public health, and sets a dangerous precedent of public land being handed over for private use—something we, the public, do not accept.
Parks & Rec is clear-cutting our parkland to build a $100 million sports complex with toxic artificial turf to rent to out-of-town tournaments, while neglecting the existing 192 neighborhood fields.
Artificial turf causes more injuries than grass, contains cancer-causing toxins (hazardous for kids), increases the heat island effect, and harms the environment. Even cities like Boston are banning it.
South Philly has only 5% tree canopy cover. The current FDR Plan will destroy its largest woodland, a crucial green space that protects us from flooding, extreme heat, and air pollution.
The plan was created behind closed doors, misrepresenting community input. The majority wanted more access to nature, not a jump from 5 to 16 fields. This was before PFAS in artificial turf and before the pandemic, which showed how the FDR Meadows healed our community.
Save The Meadows continues to fight the misinformation, greenwashing, & suppression of democratic processes by the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Rec.
Support our work with a donation.
What’s happening to the FDR Park Meadows?
As of October 2025, Philadelphia Parks & Rec and the Fairmount Park Conservancy have built nothing in the huge area of the they cleared in May and June of 2024: the whole area to the west and south of Bellaire Manor, including the picnic grove and nearly 50 irreplaceable heritage trees among hundreds of others. It’s the next phase of this $256 million plan, “Pattison Fields,” with five artificial turf athletic fields in the northern section of the Meadows, plus roads and parking lots.
Although at least 75 acres have been clear-cut, there are still 100 acres of habitat and tree canopy left to save from toxic turf and development. The Meadows are magical; the development plan is controversial. Let Parks and Rec and your Council members know that access to wild green space is important to South Philadelphians!
Want to learn more? Visit our FAQ page or read about greenwashing.
Images below show the Phase 1 for Pattison Fields Sports complex and the heritage trees cut down by the Fairmount Park “Conservancy” on behalf of the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department.
