Fairmount Park kicks off its 100th anniversary season April 22 with an eight-race card and a brand new casino that only seemed to take 100 years to get into operation Opening day has eight races with total purses of $125,000—modest by some standards but encouraging for local horsemen who have suffered through years of decline and disappointment Even more encouraging is the temporary casino that opened its doors April 18 with a range of slots and electronic table games for gamblers and the promise of additional purse money for horsemen Illinois tracks were authorized to apply for casino gaming licenses through legislative action in 2019 and the entire state racing industry expected a renaissance casino action at the state's three tracks stalled out which owned Arlington International Racecourse shocked the industry by declining to even apply for a gaming license and instead closed and sold the track The iconic grandstand was demolished by the land's current owner Sign up for BloodHorse Daily Hawthorne Race Course applied for a license and gutted its grandstand to make room for a casino and the skeleton of the former grandstand now looms over the racing surface located across the Mississippi River from St Once the track was sold to Accel Entertainment in December of 2024 After relatively rapid-fire approvals by the Illinois Racing Board and Illinois Gaming Board Accel set its sights on having the temporary casino operational in time for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1)—and made it with two weeks to spare and we're thrilled the day is finally here," IRB executive director Domenic DiCera said "It's encouraging to the entire industry." A percentage of racetrack casinos' adjusted gross revenue is allocated to purses and eventually should help boost Fairmount's daily offerings significantly from the opening-day level The gaming expansion legislation also mandates part of the AGR be devoted to improvements on the track backstretch head of the Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said walking into the casino opening was "a great day Watkins praised Accel for hiring Vince Gabbert Sr., a former official at Keeneland as general manager of the entire enterprise For them to put a racing guy in charge of the whole thing really says a lot about their commitment," Watkins said Photo: Wikimedia CommonsThe paddock at Fairmount Park He acknowledged change will take some time "it will be fun to watch the reload." Operating Fairmount is a new direction for Accel and the company went to great lengths to convince state regulators of its commitment to both gaming and racing Watkins noted all eight races on the opening-day program are sprints at 5 and 5 1/2 furlongs He said horsemen and track officials agreed to start short to address conditioning issues caused by nasty winter weather but said the horse population on the backstretch—about 600 with more promised—should support average eight-horse fields on eight-race programs "We are thrilled to open our casino and showcase our park improvements highlighting the hard work and dedication of our employees and partners," Gabbert said Accel CEO Andy Rubenstein credited the support of state and local officials "I would like to thank the Illinois Racing Board and our local elected officials for their guidance and partnership throughout our development of this historic property We would not have been able to complete this casino and park improvements in less than five months without their support," Rubenstein said Fairmount will celebrate its 100th anniversary Sept. 19, hosting the fifth running of the $250,000 St. Louis Derby, the richest race on the Illinois calendar. The 2022 edition was won by Rattle N Roll  the first grade 1 winner to compete at Fairmount in any local's memory Your request has been blocked by our security system due to potential security concerns Please contact us for assistance is hosting its first racing day of the 2025 season on Tuesday enjoy scratch-made cuisine from its three new concession stands and play at its newly opened casino from 9 am to 2 am Skydivers will kick off the festivities.“This is an exciting week at Fairmount Park,” said Dana Mueller VP of Marketing at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing guests have even more ways to enjoy the season.” Fairmount Park partnered with The Fifty/50 Group, a Chicago-based and nationally recognized business, to develop and expand its food and beverage offerings The Fifty/50 Group is also providing Fairmount Park with catering services for corporate events and everything in between.Guests can choose from a variety of scratch-made options Locally sourced doughnuts and muffins are also available Fairmount Park will also construct a full-service restaurant and bar that is slated to tentatively open in summer 2025.The casino opened to the public on Friday guests will find an exclusive selection of the latest and most in-demand slots and electronic table games This includes 271 cutting-edge slot machines Fairmount Park’s parent company, Accel Entertainment, Inc. is a leading distributed gaming operator in the United States They plan to invest $85 to $95 million in casino facilities and improvements to the horse racing experience.Must be 21 years of age or older to enter the casino If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) When Fairmount Park opens for its 100th season of horse racing in the Metro East next month the facility will look much different as the new owner has started $100 million in renovations After Accel Entertainment closed on the purchase of FanDuel Sportsbook & Racetrack last year the Chicago-based company started construction that includes building a new casino improving many aspects of the track and eventually building a concert venue and maybe a hotel really ensures that the track will be here for another 100 years,” said Vince Gabbert a Kentucky native who’s cut his teeth in that state’s massive horse industry said the planned renovations expected to be complete in the next three years will be monumental growth for a track that’s been distressed And it will serve as a template for other markets Those changes have everyone from Collinsville’s city manager to the president of the local horsemen’s association and the jockeys excited “We think it's going to be a boon to our community and the Metro East at large,” said Collinsville City Manager Derek Jackson Under the state law passed in 2019 that allowed for the creation of “racinos” — racetracks with casinos — Collinsville and the surrounding communities will receive more than $3 million in annual revenue through an admissions and gaming tax But it’s not just municipalities that will see improvements they are hoping there will be more racing that will get more competitive “It's been a long time coming,” said Scott Becker whose family has been racing at Fairmount since the 1960s “There's a lot of us that have just been waiting for this You think about the changes and it almost makes you break down to tears of happiness because we've really wanted this for a long time.” When patrons arrive for the start of the season on April 22 The goal for Accel will be to have a temporary casino running and the 150-person restaurant finished this spring “We'll ask for a lot of patience and grace,” he said that everybody will really love the finished product.” where the main casino will be built over the next three years a place to bet on the ponies and other sports The company already tore down the old tote board the horseracing equivalent of a score board and it will put in a new video version this spring Accel will start to build new barns and dorms for employees It has already ordered new equipment like a tractor and float to maintain the horse racing surface The inner rail of the track will be replaced after this season “A lot of little things that people may not notice but it’ll really improve the look of the product,” he said The infield concert venue and maybe a hotel will be the last pieces of the three-year project Beyond the aesthetic and physical changes happening While eventually Fairmount officials hope to race more Accel and the horsemen's association decided to move up Saturday’s time to 1:30 p.m to draw more bettors watching from around the country president of the Illinois Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and there's a lot of positive changes on the horizon Fairmount Park is going to be a destination.” said Fairmount Park has a chance to place Illinois back on the national stage in the racing industry as other nearby states passed legislation to allow for racinos track improvements and hopefully more racing will help quell some of those problems said the track’s improvement should only make the competition stronger “I think what they're doing is great because it incentivizes more horses to come by the more the jockeys will be able to make and support their families The time change on Saturdays is also welcome for the Collinsville track’s jockeys who often race in northern Illinois on Sundays there’s now a bright outlook for Fairmount after “30 years of negativity.” Shortened racing seasons waiting on the state legislature to pass a bill and watching other tracks close all played a factor into the track’s decline “It's like something you couldn't script up to happen,” Becker said “And there's a lot of long-standing horsemen here that deserve a lot of this to happen.” Collinsville officials made their $3 million regional projections based on conservative estimates that Fairmount Park would see 450,000 patrons this season The 2019 state law allows for a 5% electronic gaming tax Collinsville gets 40% of the tax revenue generated at Fairmount 10 other surrounding committees will get 10 cents per visitor “We’re all about regionalism,” Jackson said The extra tax revenue isn’t the only economic benefit of the upgraded racetrack the more people who patronize small businesses and Collinsville’s downtown “The more people we can have coming into town to pay for services here or entertainment that takes a burden off of our residents when it comes to property tax.” Accel and Collinsville don’t currently have incentive agreements but they are discussing possibilities that could include tax increment financing buying improvements at a discounted sales tax rate and trading some nearby property to build solar panels The solid attendance at Fairmount gives the company hope in its attempt to grow “The exciting thing for me here is it really is a chance to do some cool stuff,” he said The owners and trainers said they’re also excited even though there will be some adjustments “Short term pain for long-term gain,” Watkins said “We understand that we're going to have to be inconvenienced Anthony’s impact and legacy can still be felt across the city — and you can see it This “Drexel in Philly” series explores some of the historic buildings public art and other places that Drexel’s founder — and his large family — built and supported America’s first private and nonprofit civic organization for public art and urban design was founded right here in Philadelphia — and Drexel University’s founder was its first president Financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel led that Fairmount Park Art Association from its creation in 1872 until his death in 1893 The organization commissioned and purchased public art to be installed in Fairmount Park which opened in 1867; over the past 153 years the group has expanded to beautify all of Philadelphia His legacy can be seen today through the art he approved and the work that continued after his death: As noted in a 1922 publication celebrating the Fairmount Park Art Association’s 50th anniversary: At the time of [the organization’s] foundation being assured of [Anthony’s] interest in art and in the welfare of his native city tendered him the Presidency; he accepted the honor presiding at the meetings of the Board of Trustees and always being willing to give time and attention to the many problems that confronted the management in the early years of its career In fact it is recognized that the formation and additions to the Permanent Fund [which funded the organization’s activities] were made possible by the knowledge that his guiding hand would ensure stability to its investments Under Anthony’s leadership the organization purchased commissioned and installed over a dozen sculptures in Fairmount Park that are still displayed throughout the city.  After Anthony’s death on June 30, 1893, the Fairmount Park Art Association held a special meeting to honor his leadership. The organization’s 1894 annual report indicated the desire to honor him:  Possessed of a strong personality and occupying the highest social rank he was invariably courteous and tolerant in debate and it is not too much to say that his name and repute gave lustre to the Association….It is we suffer the loss of a man in every way fitted by education and rank to lead this organization and in deploring this fatality it is earnestly desired to accentuate his life The sculpture is on top of a 45-foot-tall granite base with a short biographical inscription: “A son of Philadelphia who did honor to his native city by the uprightness of his life his integrity as a great financier and his generous interest in the public welfare.” Anthony’s “The Wrestlers” statue was installed in 1885 and can be found across the street from the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center in West Fairmount Park U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant first met Anthony as a Union Army general in 1863 and they remained close throughout Grant’s two-term presidency (1869–1877) and until his death in 1885.  and Ulysses attended the 1872 wedding of Anthony’s daughter Emilie.  And while Anthony declined Ulysses’ offer to become Secretary of the Treasury he still provided counsel and advice to the president he had “frequently expressed a desire to witness the erection of the memorial to General Grant and it was mainly due to his effort in this direction that such was about to be accomplished.” The resulting bronze equestrian statue was installed in 1898 and can be found in East Fairmount Park which was created in 1959 to require builders to spend one percent of construction costs on public art Several artists whose work was purchased and displayed by the organization either taught or studied at Drexel, or have had their work displayed as public art on Drexel’s University City Campus Media Relations Submission Guidelines — Lent is the season for Fish Fry Fridays and the Fairmount Fire Department has been cooking and serving its fried haddock fish sandwiches for the public Gregg Popps said the fish comes in fresh and is cooked the same way “We use super fresh fish and fresh grease that gets changed every week," Popps said "We’re never using the same product twice." which was voted CNY’s Best Community Fish Fry in 2019 the department also offers pasta and shrimp dishes “We got vodka riggies with and without shrimp," Popps said In addition to supporting the Fairmount Fire Department the money raised from Fish Fry Fridays also goes to support local youth sports and education The Fairmount Fire Department will be serving Fish Fry Dinners along with their pasta and shrimp dishes at the Fire Department By: 5:00 am on March 25 The Unity Council has filed a zoning worksheet on behalf of the Oakland Peace Center for a partial demolition and reconstruction of a 94-unit affordable housing complex at 111 Fairmount Avenue in Oakland. Pre-applications for the project were filed almost two years ago proposing a 70+ unit development with no official renderings or timeline for completion The application called for the construction of a 75-foot tall building in a 35-foot restricted area This pre-application waiver has since been accepted allowing the project to move forward with the worksheet Official renderings for the final building have still not been released but the application provided a detailed visual description of the proposed design “The building’s massing emphasizes a simple yet elegant form allowing for efficient and well-designed unit layouts The subtle angle in the front façade draws inspiration from the existing building’s gable roof creating a cohesive relationship between old and new while adding unique architectural character to the street frontage.” the proposal describes the use of wood-like planking with grey and white metal panels and blue accents for the facade done in a contemporary style still complementary to the original property’s design The new information also included details for several public spaces and amenities and 44 integrated vehicle parking spaces with 28 bike parking spaces Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews The people in OHA are going to suffer a massive aneurysm from this I talked to a permit tech yesterday at the Oakland building department and they told me that there’s only one planner who is working due to budget cuts so planning is taking a long time ga('send', 'event', ‘Robert ‘Becker, 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/desktop-ad.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sfyimbyadnews.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sf-yimby-dot-com-graphic.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC “There’s still that higher-end dining experience of Nighttown, while adding other aspects of EDWINS like the cigar bar,” says Mack. “That location pairs [in the neighborhood] with Zhug and Vero EDWINS founder Chef Brandon ChrostowskiChrostowski closed both EDWINS and EDWINS Too Shaker Square locations in late February—the restauranteur says he had been dealing with ongoing crime in Shaker Square that affected both EDWINS establishments and the surrounding shopping district the excitement of moving locations far outweighs any pressure of taking Nighttown's place but this team put it together in nine days,” Chrostowski told Fresh Water Cleveland during a Feb because we have a big opportunity here,” he says After calling Shaker Square home for 12 years Chrostowski is now re-establishing the fine dining and casual brasserie experience that has made EDWINS so celebrated The main dining area offers a high-end menu with premium pricing—serving choices like Fillet de Sole Brillat Savarin (lobster and black truffle mousse-filled sole filets with sauce Américaine) and Grenadin de Veau avec Creme de Cibroulete (roasted veal cutlet with chive cream sauce and carrots) as well as five- and seven-course tasting menus and patios host the more casual versions of EDWINS’ cuisine—such as Steak Frites A heated cigar room situated off the main dining space keeps with EDWINS' established charm The atmospheric jazz-club atmosphere of Nighttown will be preserved with nightly piano music. Larger acts will take the stage on weekends with bigger names requiring a cover charge drinks and entertainment does not mean that children are unwelcome EDWINS’ kids’ menu offers poutine and other delicacies for less than $10 “We are looking to embrace family around here,” Chrostowski says “I’ve got four kids with one more on the way It’s hard to go out nowadays and afford [a meal] so we are happy to provide some lower price points.” Cleveland chef Doug Katz's  Mediterranean-themed Zhug, just a half-block from EDWINS on Cedar Hill, has seen success since it opened more than five years ago Katz says Cedar-Fairmount can prosper from the restaurant’s seemingly smooth transition into the district—especially after five years of uncertainty and speculation about a Nighttown property that never returned to form Chef Doug Katz“That period changed people’s mindset of what that location should be and expectations have changed so much over the years,” says Katz “The fact that it’s Brandon taking over the space I can’t think of someone who could do a better job.” He says EDWINS adds to the area’s varied culinary offerings as well ranging from beers and wings to more upscale selections a bustling restaurant at Nighttown’s former spot will reactivate a section of Cedar-Fairmount that has recently lacked visitor traffic as any traffic will pass by our storefront,” he says With all the programming at University Circle that life can carry up the hill if we have a vibrant district ourselves.” EDWINS' social impact extends beyond dining, thanks to the EDWINS Institute an acclaimed culinary training program housed in the restaurant basement 27 press tour featured a class of would-be chefs learning essential culinary techniques Culinary Students at the Kitchen“The goal behind this was not just opening a big students into one room to be able to watch them crawl whose program trains formerly incarcerated adults who want a second chance at success The philanthropic aspect of EDWINS only enhances the dining experience for Cleveland Heights resident Mack “It makes it even better that people are learning at EDWINS or moving on to another restaurant and applying their experience,” he says “I enjoy that my monetary impact is greater than just purchasing food and drink and Brandon is helping people get that opportunity.” EDWINS hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for fine dining; Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Thursday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. in The Brasserie for casual dining; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Sunday Brunch. Closed on Mondays. Reservations can be made for any of the rooms or the patio Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCOLLINSVILLE (First Alert 4) - Fairmount Park is adding a casino The casino’s temporary placement in the grandstand is Phase 1 of a broader redevelopment effort with the full-size casino coming in Phase 2 folks will be able to come in and enjoy the casino as well as racing here at the track,” said Vince Gabbert VP of US Gaming and General Manager at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing “We’ve brought in the best slot machines and electronic table games on the market Every game on the floor is either brand-new or a fan favorite The initial racing day at Fairmount Park is April 22 Races will be held every Tuesday and Saturday until Nov In announcing the casino, Fairmount Park said they are looking to hire for both part-time and full-time positions. Open positions include security officers, cage cashiers and slot attendants. Click here for more information or to apply A Fairmount Line commuter rail train moved along the tracks at Hyde Park’s Readville station on Feb It has been nearly 30 years since Marvin Martin stood on an overpass by Erie and Washington streets in Dorchester and watched as a Fairmount commuter train whizzed by underneath him without stopping could see that most of the commuter passengers didn’t look like him the northbound 23 bus stopped to pick up passengers and Martin noticed that most of the passengers on the bus were Black or brown “It was already standing room only,” he said “People were packed in there like sardines When Martin began organizing the community to push for an expansion of the Fairmount commuter line in 2000 there were five stops along the route running through densely populated majority-minority communities in Hyde Park with terminals in Readville and at South Station As significant community advocacy gathered steam The latest improvement set for the Fairmount Line is the electrification pilot project proposed by Keolis Commuter Services that the MBTA approved last July The $54 million plan will bring battery electric multiple-unit train cars to replace the current diesel-fueled trains These more environmentally friendly BEMUs are expected to begin operating in 2028 one of many community advocacy groups specific to the Fairmount Line and Keolis hosted a joint event last Thursday (Feb 27) to celebrate the electrification project as a victory for transit equity in conjunction with Black History Month and we all worked together and coalesced to make sure that this happened for our communities because we would have been left behind,” Mela Bush co-chair of the coalition said during the event The MBTA has worked over the past year to reduce wait times and increase service on the Fairmount Line New schedules were announced last May that have trains mostly running on 30-to-60-minute intervals as opposed to the 90-minute intervals in the past T officials anticipate reducing intervals to 20 minutes on weekdays as BEMUs slow down and speed up quicker than diesel trains These continuous changes are meant to improve the reliability of the line a move that regular commuter Jason Ellis appreciates this [train is] usually here when I get here,” said Ellis who takes the train from terminal to terminal three days a week for work the Fairmount Line is situated between the T’s Red and Orange Lines where there is no rapid transit alternative into the city The communities along the Fairmount corridor are designated Environmental Justice Populations by the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Justice and Equity based on minority population A 2023 report by the Boston Public Health Commission revealed that Mattapan one of the neighborhoods that the Fairmount Line services has the highest rates of asthma emergency department visits in the city Multiple studies show that diesel exhaust and particles exacerbate asthma symptoms using overhead catenary wires to charge on-board batteries that move the trains The electric power reduces both energy use and air pollution compared to diesel trains not just about getting you there quicker,” said Coalition co-chair Marilyn Forman “It’s also about helping to improve the physical health of the people that are living along that line.” Forman credited Keolis for facilitating conversations between the MBTA and community advocacy groups on how to improve the Fairmount Line and keeping communication open We really work collaboratively and with every part of the MBTA,” said Sheri Warrington Keolis director of public relations and government affairs “The MBTA is supporting the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition and the passengers that we want to be connected with.” Russell Holmes sees the pace of the project as “promises not kept” to the community Deval Patrick committed in 2014 to a rollout of diesel multiple units (DMU) to replace the diesel trains DMUs were meant to provide the Fairmount Line with faster service and shorter wait times between trains but those plans never got off the ground only one company responded to bid requests Healey and the MBTA to the timeline they promised for BEMUs “I hate when we promise our community something and don’t deliver it.” For the advocates who have spent years pushing for changes to the Fairmount Line the electrification project is just the next step it makes you feel like there’s no stopping,” she said “If you don’t advocate for the things that are going to improve the quality of life for you and your family This story is part of a partnership between the Dorchester Reporter and the Boston University Department of Journalism Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $50 for 52 Issues in the continental US Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $60 for 52 Issues in the continental US. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The City of Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCSD) is a nationally recognized and award-winning Department that provides innovative recreational experiences and social enrichment opportunities to address the changing needs for people of all ages and cultures, in a variety of safe and attractive parks, trails, landscapes, and facilities. View and register for classes, activities and programs. Make a splash! Parks & Rec offers swim lessons all summer. Transportation to any location within Riverside for senior or disabled individuals. Make a splash! Parks & Rec offers swim lessons and more all summer. Rounds of golf, driving range and tournaments. 55 and better classes, clubs, trips and nutrition. Northern Transmissions is a music website started for music lovers, by music lovers. We feature interviews, album and live reviews from today’s most influential independent bands and artists. Northern Transmissions also features music news from around the world everyday. on a farewell tour of sorts – Portishead drummer and composer Geoff Barrow is leaving the trio – the krautrock experimentation of Bristol’s Beak> was met with some challenges Any knowledge of the band would give a pretty good indication of what was to be expected: primarily tracks from their surprise 2024 album entitled “>>>>” Beak> isn’t really a singles-driven outfit But the band drew an enthusiastic sell out crowd in one of Montreal’s best medium-sized venues The only thing that held back what was almost a truly great night out were technical difficulties Beak> were able to make it through a bit of a challenging start Billy Fuller on bass and vocals and Will Young on everything else but it was obvious that there was a little frustration with elements of the sound Lots of feedback and stop starts (“Secrets” was a tune that didn’t get off the ground) meant that the audience was witness to Beak> making do with a less-than-ideal situation But less than the best is still pretty good for Beak> Barrow threw in a couple of jabs and jokes about touring the “51st state” which met with a chorus of boos and loud opinions yelled from the audience so they might have some understanding of national precarity But there is nothing perilous or shaky about Beak>’s sonic approach they produced a rousing and raucous wall of sound with smoother bits and pieces like the melodic “Hungry Are We” and the languorous “Cellophane” it wasn’t a complete full run through of the recent record The synthy ballad “Eggdog” and throbbing “Breandown” from previous records were early inclusions Barrow referenced the fact that this was his last tour A look at previous set lists indicates that Montreal missed out on a couple tracks but the one-two triumphant punch of the beat-driven “Wulfstan II” and “Blagdon Lake” led the dance-averse crowd to bounce and bob right to the end As Fuller stood up to triumphantly reveal a broken bass and Barrow waved farewell as he left the stage it was clear that there would be no encore order tickets for Beak> HERE You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience an annual Philadelphia tradition returns with holiday tours of the Fairmount Park Houses The beautiful and historic 18th and 19th century houses will be decorated for the season and open to the public for special tours Lemon Hill Mansion—1 Lemon Hill Drive Philadelphia merchant Henry Pratt built Lemon Mansion in 1801 He named the estate after citrus trees he grew in his greenhouse It features unique oval rooms that overlook the Schuylkill River There are also great views of the city skyline 2024: Winter Around the World “Celebrate the Caribbean” 2024: Winter Around the World “Celebrate Japan” 2024: Winter Around the World “Celebrate Southeast Asia” with a selection of FDR Southeast Asian Market Vendors + FREE Family Day with Santa Learn more about Lemon Hill Mansion.  Ormiston Mansion—2000 Reservoir Dr. A wealthy Scottish merchant built the mansion in 1798 The Royal Heritage Society of the Delaware Valley maintains the house Ormiston is an example of Georgian architecture The third-floor dormer windows open to a magnificent view of the river Learn more about Ormiston Mansion.  Laurel Hill Mansion—3487 Edgley Drive Laurel Hill is one of the most visible houses situated along the Schuylkill River The view of the river from the back porch is beautiful The Laurel Hill Mansion is open Thursday to Sunday Learn more about Laurel Hill Mansion.  Woodford Mansion—2300 N 33rd St. Naomi Wood’s unique collection of colonial objects has been displayed here The Woodford Mansion is open Wednesday to Sunday Learn more about Woodford Mansion.  Historic Strawberry Mansion—2450 Strawberry Mansion Dr. Historic Strawberry Mansion is the largest of the Fairmount Park Historic Houses Handcrafted and manufactured ornaments and decorations will adorn the mansion for the holidays The Historic Strawberry Mansion is open Thursday to Sunday Learn more about Strawberry Mansion.  PLEASE NOTE: Trolley and Bus Tours are not available this year The East Fairmount Park Houses are all within a short driving and or biking distance of each other (Woodford and Historic Strawberry Mansion are across the street from each other Lemon Hill is a 10 minute drive from the others) Marketplace focuses on the latest business news both nationally and internationally and wider events linked to the financial markets It is noted for its accessible coverage of business Part of the Trolley Trail that opened last year the century-old skew arch bridge is getting a facelift The loop winds through nearly 5 miles of green space alongside the Schuylkill But the Fairmount Park Commission, which administered the city’s park system at the time required the trolley company to build its bridges within the park to certain standards which likely helped the skew arch bridge survive the decades “They demanded that all these stone bridges be of first-quality stone masonry,” Thomas said “The bridge has received almost no maintenance … it’s still in reasonably good shape.” The bridge’s striking design consists of 14 brick arches that form slanted ribs on the underside of the bridge. The skew arch was a common engineering solution for bridges that crossed an obstacle at a non-perpendicular angle, Thomas said. But not every skew arch bridge has this bridge’s distinct look “It carried Midvale Drive over the trolley bed diagonally,” he said the ends of it will fall down … Like a slinky they … built [14] arches that are next to each other but splayed one from the other That’s so they work as a true arch.” The Fairmount Park Conservancy has determined that the interior of the ribs are in good condition, Rasheed said. But natural aging of the mortar, along with trees and other plants growing on the bridge have caused some wear and tear on the exterior A small conservation team has been replacing bricks that have fallen out of these slanted ribs with the original bricks or salvaged bricks of roughly the same age securing them with a soft lime mortar that won’t damage the bricks conservation supervisor with the conservancy the restoration project has cost under $100,000 It’s funded by a state grant and a private donation Among the next steps in the bridge restoration will be repointing the entire bridge — or removing the old mortar from between the bricks and replacing it with new mortar but hikers and bikers need to detour around the bridge The segment of trail that runs through the bridge should reopen in early December The funding will go toward renovations of the Valley Green Road Bridge in Wissahickon Valley Park and the Bells Mill Bridge near Morris Arboretum The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. The majority of workers who commute into the urban core have returned since the COVID-19 pandemic began five years ago according to the annual State of Center City report More than 1.2 million international visitors traveled to Philadelphia last year but far fewer tourists are expected to visit in 2025 Sophia Schmidt covers the environment for WHYY's PlanPhilly Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY Fresh Air opens the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics Terry Gross hosts this multi-award-winning daily interview and features program A $15 million indoor polo arena and renovated horse barn is coming to a corner of the Fairmount Park forest Pistachio is a horse, but referred to as a pony because he is trained to play horse polo, an elite game with leagues open to high school and college students nationwide McLaughlin was working inside a temporary barn near Chestnut Hill College in Northwest Philly as the 36 horses who usually live in the Fairmount Park barn — known as the Chamounix Equestrian Center — were scattered across several states during renovations that began in October But by next winter, McLaughlin and dozens more youth can expect to groom and care for horses in a freshly renovated, unnamed barn equipped with an indoor arena that will be named the McCausland Arena it’s a multmillion-dollar project underway for Work to Ride founded three decades ago by local horse trainer Lezlie Hiner Hiner said that the project is a huge leap forward for the organization that accepts retired racehorses as donations who are trained into polo horses for Philadelphia youth to ride “So this will really allow us the opportunity to be more consistent with the kids and with their programming.” For the past 30 years, Hiner has been leasing the former Philadelphia Police Department horse mounted police barn known as McCarthy Stables built in the 1970s from the city’s parks and recreation department for a nominal fee “Part of the lease agreement was that she would be in charge of all capital improvements and when you’re running a small nonprofit barely getting by each year the last thing you’re thinking about is redoing a roof or fixing a window when you’ve got kids and horses to feed,” chimed Kareem Rosser executive vice president at Work to Ride and an alum of the program himself city support and dozens of private donations mean the organization can finally rehab the complex the organization has raised nearly $12.5 million out of its total $15 million goal But it took nearly a decade of planning and hard work to make such a vision get close enough to happen “We’re just a couple million dollars short from the overall goal and fully funding the project,” Rosser said “But we are just happy where we are in the process The earliest the new indoor arena as phase one of the project could open would be in April 2025 The barn renovation and the rest of the facilities would be in phase two to wrap up next year The project is a major accomplishment for alums like Rosser who is now in his 30s and leveraged his horse polo playing skills into scholarships to a private high school and college he was 8 years old and tagging along his older brothers That’s when he would sometimes hide in the hay loft above the horse stalls to avoid farm chores in cold weather “There are a lot of us who started very young and you can see the impact the organization had on a lot of us,” he said “Many of us now have children [of our own] who are starting to ride The Philadelphia Polo Classic will be a rare event for the sport of polo Matches are almost never held in places like Edgely Field in East Fairmount Park It was serendipitous that Rosser himself even moved back to Philadelphia He went to Colorado State University for college but came back home in 2016 to work in finance but he said he wanted to be closer to his friends and family The Rosser siblings were regulars at the Fairmount Park barn over the years — a big family with six children who shared a rowhouse with their mother in a West Philadelphia neighborhood known as The Bottom Rosser dedicated his first book, a memoir of his journey to a national polo championship, to his loved ones, who were abruptly slain in Philadelphia “I didn’t want to just be this poster child of the organization but really come back and serve,” Rosser said “It was also always really important to come back and be an example for the children as a mentor it’s second to NASCAR when you think about danger.” When the kids accomplish their goals and beam with pride they might not have in many other areas of their lives “I think that a lot of the kids show up with a lot of trauma and fear but it’s great to see the confidence that the kids build over time and the trust between the horses and the kids themselves,” he said Rosser is now working for the nonprofit after a role as a board member, to institutionalize its processes and set up a financial structure that can make capital projects, such as the indoor arena and barn renovation, a reality. The project was also awarded $200,000 from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program in November in addition to the local share of gaming revenue And there are many more alums who are thriving in the world who was visiting from Houston to see the sports arena’s progress Prather started at the horse stables when he was 14 years old there were many attempts over the years to get the arena going and a lot of roadblocks,” Prather said “When Kareem first came around to the barn he was this little kid just running around You would never dream that this is where we would be today I am really proud of him for making this vision come true.” Horseback riding lessons for the public is one way the organization raises money for its operations “This time of year we aren’t even having lessons [at the Fairmount Park stable],” Rosser said not only does it allow us to operate year-round and be able to keep the lights on but it’s also going to give the kids a safe and comfortable place to ride The arena itself won’t be heated but it’ll be a lot warmer than if we didn’t have this space.” that’s softer for horse hooves and riders’ comfort And it will allow for horseback riding on rainy days too when it would otherwise be too muddy for the horses during the spring and summer months “We’ve never been able to practice [polo] year-round to be able to compete at a high level We found ways to win but typically we were practicing and playing a game at the same time,” he said most of the barn inhabitants are two dozen barn cats dubbed the stable construction site managers “When the barn is at full capacity there’s kids For 18-year-old student athlete Marc-Anthony Harley he was tapped to train some retired racehorses for polo games in partnership with another student who worked with the horse on show jumping Harley traveled to Kentucky for a competition in October He says he can’t wait to move back into the refreshed barn riding horses is one way to help him deal with hard days in life He was brimming with pride recounting his experiences and goals for the future He has been in the program for the past 10 years I can tell you that,” Harley said about riding horses in polo games You use your lower body to hold on to the saddle and stay on because it’s almost like a motorcycle.” how they survive in their natural habitat,” he said time management as well in and out of school It’s about being responsible for yourself and the horses so you have to learn to accommodate their needs as well as yours and be safe.” None of the youth in the program can continue riding horses if their grades are not in order and there’s a partnership with tutors to help make sure that happens Some of those lessons include something well-known in the agricultural world, such as the difference between hay and straw, despite living in a major city where concrete is more common than grass school district and a group of nonprofits are officially joining forces to plant and protect more trees He pushes it around because they all do that the stuff [horses] pee and poop on,” McLaughlin said He said he wants to go to college to pursue his dream of a career that combines fashion and dermatology “You’re going faster speeds than you would regularly on ice but it’s like hockey because you’re passing the ball back and forth from teammates running around on horses,” he said And when he’s ever been scared on the back of a horse? Our weekly newsletter delivers original reporting on the people Most legislation to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania doesn’t survive a committee vote but two years ago a bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate Close to a dozen residents of the flood-prone neighborhood met with members of Congress Tuesday Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia asked hundreds of residents about what’s holding them back from earning more money – in short it is stability Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza is WHYY News' business reporter members of the Phillies front office staff teamed up with Fairmount Park to help clean up and care for the area around FDR Park’s Pattison Lagoon Volunteers cared for young trees by watering and mulching them while also clearing out weeds and cleaning up any trash The planting of and caring for native trees flowers and grasses help support local wildlife and will make a lasting impact on the lagoon’s ecosystem the Phillie Phanatic showed up to help out by raking mulch and ripping out weeds himself Check out the highlights from this fantastic Earth Day cleanup event which was also a part of the team’s Red Goes Green and Phillies Give Back initiatives Click on the links below to learn more about each inductee Read more about William E. Simon Read more about Mark G. Wentling the initiative will introduce seven BEMU trainsets for the Fairmount Line Keolis and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) are seeking bids for seven battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) trainsets for operation on Boston’s Fairmount Line in the US the project aims to cut emissions and enhance safety The Fairmount Line electrification project forms part of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s transportation infrastructure modernisation plan The $8bn modernisation plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offering decarbonised transport solutions The BEMU trainsets trains will utilise hybrid technology combining onboard batteries with overhead wire power With intervals of every 20 minutes during weekdays the trainsets are expected to ensure frequent service and shorten journey times Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Massachusetts officials announced a $54m plan to introduce battery-electric train service to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line The MBTA Board of Directors in July approved Keolis’ proposal to deploy BEMU trains on the Fairmount Line Keolis will oversee the transition as a project delivery partner (PDP) installing necessary power and charging infrastructure The PDP approach will be executed in two phases including an initial design and procurement preparation phase followed by the fleet’s integration and project management phase Said to be the shortest of the MBTA’s Commuter Rail lines the Fairmount Line serves nine stations and carries approximately 3,200 daily passengers as of April 2024 The transition to battery-electric service is projected to save 1.6 million gallons of fuel annually and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 17,700 tonnes per year compared to diesel operations Nominations are now open for the prestigious Railway Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardMan sues ACCT Philly and Fairmount Park Conservancy after dog attack resulted in partial amputation of his legsPeter Cahill was one of two men attacked on Jan 10 by a pack of dogs in the area of 2200 Chamounix Drive in West Fairmount Park A man who had both his legs partially amputated after he was attacked by a pack of dogs in West Fairmount Park in January has sued the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia and the Fairmount Park Conservancy At the time, police said they responded around 6:30 a.m 10 to a report of two men being attacked by a group of dogs in the area of 2200 Chamounix Drive the men had been transported to hospitals by medics A 61-year-old man who was the initial victim of the attack was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition A 60-year-old man was transported to Lankenau Medical Center where he was reported in stable condition and was released later that day the plaintiff of the lawsuit filed Monday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court suffered multiple dog bites resulting in amputations of both legs below the knees skin grafts on his upper right thigh and right forearm nerve damage of the palm and fingers of his right hand as well as mental and psychological trauma and significant medical expenses A spokesperson for ACCT Philly could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit ACCT Philly is a nonprofit that provides shelter and animal-control services under a contract with the city A spokesperson for the Fairmount Park Conservancy declined to comment Police at the time said the dogs were first reported shortly after 2:20 a.m in the area of 3600 Chamounix Drive and a responding officer saw a pack of pit bulls and called ACCT Philly At least one ACCT Philly officer arrived and was attempting to capture the dogs when he was attacked and knocked to the ground One of the dogs then charged the police officer who responded by firing his gun once and missed the dog One of the dogs was captured after the initial encounter The attack on Cahill and the other man happened a few hours later The complaint alleges that “the Animal Control Officer and possibly others were aware of reports that said dogs had previously been repeatedly returning to Fairmount Park.” The complaint continues: “The Animal Control Officer and his team negligently abandoned the scene with the dangerous dogs still loose constituting a threat to the health and welfare of the public.” a “good Samaritan” saw Cahill lying on the side of the road The other man then was attacked by the same dogs The complaint alleges that ACCT Philly violated its obligations under Pennsylvania law ACCT Philly and the Fairmount Park Conservancy “had a duty to ensure the safety and protection of persons throughout Fairmount Park,” the lawsuit says filed by Philadelphia firm Golkow Hessel LLC is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000 along with any other financial relief determined by the judge The new owners of Fairmount Park outlined for the Illinois Racing Board Nov 21 ambitious plans for improvements at the downstate track including commitments to purse increases and improvements on the backstretch They also told the board to expect "some crazy ideas from time to time." The presentation was spearheaded by Vince Gabbert a former Keeneland Association executive and now owner's representative for Accel Entertainment which expects to close early in December on the purchase of the track across the Mississippi River from St Accel also plans to open a temporary casino at the track in April In its current iteration, the track is known as FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing Accel refers to it as Fairmount Park and plans to trade heavily on its 100-year legacy "Accel's commitment is to deliver a first-class product .. and we want to create a first-class product," Gabbert said The presentation hit notes throughout that resonated with long-standing IRB concerns including breeding and backstretch stabling and living conditions "We understand that Illinois-bred numbers have fallen drastically over the last 10 or 15 years," he said "I think we can create a program that supports that that keeps that agricultural product in the state Gabbert said Accel already has worked to gain the cooperation of horsemen and praised the willingness of horsemen's groups to partner with new ownership whether it's Chris Block and his group (the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association) up here in the north or Jim Watkins and Scottie Becker (the Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association) down south It's very refreshing to walk into a room and the horsemen want to sit on the same side of the table with you—not across from you." He said Accel has negotiated "a handshake deal just waiting on execution on a five-year purse deal that provides them a guaranteed increase year-over-year We're making that commitment early on so that they understand what's going into the product Gabbert outlined plans for physical improvement on the backstretch including electrical and technology improvements and security upgrades But he also noted seemingly small things can make a big difference to those living and working on track "I'll give you one small example—picking out the muck pits on a daily basis rather than once or twice a week It's hard to push a wheelbarrow over the top of muck so it's better if it's pushed back into the pit I know it sounds like a little thing but it's a major piece of making sure the backside stays clean and workers and trainers and all the horsemen on the backside feel valued." The down-home example drew a compliment from Commissioner Patricia Saccone "Thank you for coming forward and using terms that really show us that this is going to be a collaborative effort," she said Gabbert also said Accel will work on "regionalism" with tracks in surrounding states to try to maximize the use of the existing Midwest horse population and develop a marketing program that will feature the Fairmount's 100th birthday Sept might include the running of the $250,000 St "When I talk about the opportunity that exists at Fairmount we also are probably going to be coming to you with some crazy ideas from time to time," he told the board "Things that you can't do in other jurisdictions There's certain things from a wagering standpoint that you can't pull off in New York or Kentucky or Florida or California We feel like at Fairmount we have that opportunity "So we'll be coming to you and asking permission "We're always willing to listen to ideas." then this is where you want to live now that you’ve grown up Yet there’s nothing sterile about this place at all / Photography by Powelton Digital Media via Compass author Tom Wolfe aimed his formidable writing talent at modernist architecture and blasted a hole in the middle of it with his book From Bauhaus to Our House In addition to arguing that modern buildings were awful places to live and work in Wolfe contended that the European theories that underlay modernism were ill-suited to America He especially detested the less-is-more philosophy behind the International Style the first Ikea home furnishings store in the United States opened in Plymouth Meeting If you still have some of the furniture you bought at Ikea when it was new to America — and if you have a POÄNG armchair you probably do — it will look and feel right at home inside this Fairmount modern Eurostyle townhouse for sale While it sits amidst traditional Philadelphia brick rowhouses it should be clear from the exterior photos that it wouldn’t look at all out of place in Sweden where Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus in 1919 Its simplicity pairs well with the unfussiness of its neighbors Its clean lines complement the gated brick walkways you use to reach it you will find that same clean simplicity carries on to the inside with accents and design elements that keep it from being bland Starting with the two-story-high foyer located between the garage and the two first-floor bedrooms One of those bedrooms has a wall of built-in bookshelves that makes it ideal for use as a den You will also find a full bathroom on this floor An open staircase leads from the foyer to an equally open main floor The living room occupies the end facing Fairmount Avenue Its grey brick fireplace contrasts nicely with the white walls and hardwood floors A balcony with a pergola next to the living room overlooks Fairmount Avenue The dining room and kitchen sit on the other side of the stairs from the foyer Note the paper lanterns hanging over both the stairs and the dining table The updated kitchen next to the dining room includes bar seating at its peninsula And the main floor contains a half-bath for your guests A separate stairway runs from the living room to the top floor The top-floor hallway also has a work desk under its large skylight The primary bedroom sits over the living room It has a large walk-in closet and an equally commodious bathroom with dual vanities and a glass-framed shower has its own deck that overlooks Pigs Alley the second intimate gated walkway that passes this house You can also catch glimpses of the Center City skyline from here This Fairmount modern Eurostyle townhouse for sale is located close to the Art Museum among other local attractions and amenities this clean-lined house got rebuilt at some point for the property data sheet has the placeholder date of 1925 as its construction date I can assure you that Bauhaus design had yet to reach these shores in that year The first International Style skyscraper in the country the PSFS Building (now the Loews Philadelphia Hotel) wouldn’t come along for another seven years some of those who embraced it produced structures like this one — a Bauhaus house that would be comfortable serving as your house 2311 Perot St., Philadelphia, PA 19130 [Jaime Hyman-Melman | Compass] Living in Conshohocken: A Neighborhood Guide Where to Live If You Love to Shop ’til You Drop PHL17.com Springtime is here and Philadelphia’s beautiful pink cherry blossoms are officially in bloom Fairmount Park’s annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival will take place on April 5 and 6 “With peak bloom expected in the first week of April it will be a true celebration of the Japanese Sakura under the cherry blossom trees of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park.” said a press release from the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia “You can experience Japan while you are here,” said Kazumi Teune “The Cherry Blossom Festival is a true labor of love between myself and my fellow board members we are overjoyed in bringing a taste of our beautiful culture to Philadelphia Last year’s festival welcomed over 40,000 people and we couldn’t be more delighted to celebrate once again this year.” Sakura Weekend Parking & Public Transit: To purchase tickets or for more information and the most up-to-date programming information, please visit: PhillySakura.org Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Firefighters in yellow hard hats and hoses spray down a hillside burnt to a crisp They’re clearing out what's left of thefire that tore through here near Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road Thursday afternoon "We were actually here when they were firebombing right in the canyon; got caught right in the spray and determined that the house was still here which was reassuring,” Charlie Ertl said Charlie and Jeannie Ertl live on Lila Drive where the crew raced to protect the homes butting up to the canyon "They got here and there were flames up here And that they were able to fight them back because they said within a matter of short time our house would've been gone,” Jeannie Ertl said San Diego Fire-Rescue says crews on the ground and in the air were able to put out the fire which burned dozens of acres and damaged several homes While the cause is still being looked into officials with the department told ABC 10News the fire started in or very close to a homeless encampment "We've seen an increase in homeless activity in this last year and a half,” Ron Anderson While the fire department didn't specify that's exactly where the fire started Anderson and others raised concerns on Friday about encampments in nearby areas Anderson said he's seen some in a canyon adjacent to where the fire started and another one close to Fairmount and Montezuma "It's a massive encampment,” Anderson said But we've seen people with shopping carts by the edge of the road as people doing their shopping and leave the carts there and take the stuff up,” Charlie Ertl said there's one thing many are saying on Friday: Thank you to the first responders very lucky to have them,” Jeannie Ertl said 2025We are getting a preview of what is in store for this weekend's Cherry Blossom Festival.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- We are getting a preview of what is in store for this weekend's Cherry Blossom Festival The Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia is hosting a kick-off event at the Shofuso Japanese Tea House in Fairmount Park Monday morning RELATED: When and where you'll be able to see peak cherry blossoms in Philadelphia this year The event will feature traditional Japanese music and highlight the deep roots Cherry Blossoms have in Japanese culture The Cherry Blossom festival runs Saturday and Sunday at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center ALSO SEE: 250 cherry blossom trees planted in Philadelphia to mark America's 250th anniversary Former Marcy Corrections Officer pleads guilty to manslaughter in case involving the death of an inmate in December 2024 — It was the fire that left Central New York abuzz -- the fire inside the Fairmount Target store shut it down for weeks and Camillus Police are just now releasing the video to CNY Central of the flames engulfing the store a young boy walked into the Target store on West Genesee Street in Fairmount filling the store with smoke and setting off the sprinkler system Video from inside the store shows the charred remains of store shelves Investigators spent days combing through hours of security cameras to figure out what sparked it They later zeroed in on fireworks and a boy younger than 12 Detectives say he sparked the fire by setting off fireworks inside the store causing the paper towel and toilet paper aisle to catch fire and melting the metal shelving None of the shoppers or workers inside were hurt and police would not identify him due to his age CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TDN FOR FREE! Remember Ben with a gift to Thoroughbred aftercare Subscribe for FREE to the Daily PDF or the News Alerts Home » Archive » Top News » Still Reeling from Arlington Closure Illinois Racing Sees Fairmount Evolving as Source of Optimism Yet while last year's IRB annual dates meeting was conducted with a noticeable tone of statewide optimism for the near future this year's marathon 5 1/2-hour meeting Sept 19 painted a hopeful outlook primarily only at Fairmount That's because the Collinsville track's just-approved new ownership group asked for and received IRB permission to switch some November race dates into October this autumn so Fairmount (280 miles southwest of Hawthorne and just over the Mississippi River from St Missouri) can begin construction on a temporary racino that it hopes to have operational before GI Kentucky Derby Day in 2025 which has faced numerous delays and setbacks to the construction of its own racino frustrated already-stressed Chicago horsemen by leading off its presentation at Thursday's meeting by having an attorney inform the IRB and everyone in attendance that no one from Hawthorne would publicly share any details of that track's racino development because of purported confidentiality issues related to the project stuck to broad generalities when outlining the potential future of the racino which he said has already absorbed “tens of millions” in investment money yet sits uncompleted right near the racetrack in some spots blocking traditional grandstand views of the races “What I will say is that we remain steadfast in our efforts to completely redevelop Hawthorne and to revitalize Illinois horse racing I believe the information that we've privately shared with the board is unquestionable evidence of that commitment and our continued progress in the effort,” Carey said the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA)'s executive director decried Hawthorne's decision to keep the horse racing community in the dark about the racino (It's worth noting that none of the eight IRB members present for the meeting questioned challenged or spoke up about Hawthorne management's desire to stay publicly silent on such an important issue) Both ITHA leaders went on record as saying that Hawthorne's racing management team is great to work with but that its racino leadership continues to exasperate horsemen “The cooperation level that we have on the racing side is second to none and those guys are to be commended,” McCaffrey said “Whoever the hell's running the casino show and not give us details on how to proceed with our businesses… “The racino side is abysmal,” McCaffrey continued “To be blindfolded like this is inexcusable… Block said Hawthorne's lack of direction on the future of the racino which is supposed to eventually provide the main economic engine for purses at the Chicago-area track is preventing the sport's stakeholders in Illinois from making plans about their livelihoods “I need to let this board know that this racino [was] needed a long time ago,” Block said you can't appreciate the pressure that Dave and I are under I mean this is just endless on when this is going to happen.” As far as the awarding of dates is concerned Fairmount was granted its requested 55 programs for 2025 a cut of seven race dates from what had been awarded for 2024 technically an increase of two over what had been awarded for 2024 But Hawthorne already received permission earlier this season to abandon a series of Saturday cards from mid-July onward so the actual total of 2024 dates will be closer to around 64 programs when the current season ends Oct And that figure of 80 dates for 2025 comes with “an asterisk,” McCaffrey pointed out Hawthorne next year will not be able to sustain the three-days-a-week racing schedule that it proposes for portions of the 2025 Thoroughbred calendar Fairmount will retain its two-day race weeks in 2025 slicing a little bit of time off of the start and end of the meet compared to this year Tuesday afternoons and Saturday nights will remain the race days which has tried to make a number of different post times and days of the week work for the past few years will try adding Monday twilight racing to the mix in 2025 20-July 3 (two days per week on Thursdays and Sundays with Saturdays replacing Thursdays on the weeks of Triple Crown race simulcasts) Adding in a third date per week (Mondays) will start Aug Block did state that Hawthorne's willingness to extend the meet into early November will be helpful to horsemen in Stickney on the gritty southwest outskirts of Chicago for decades had a decidedly blue-collar reputation on the Illinois circuit But for the past three years it has been thrust into only-game-in-Chicago status after the devastating exodus of the more opulent and suburban Arlington Although it was not explicitly stated at Thursday's IRB meeting it appears as if Accel might be intending to go back to calling the first horse track in its gaming portfolio by its nearly century-old former name Fairmount had been rebranded as FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing in 2020 when FanDuel took over as the track's owner and the IRB approved the ownership change at Thursday's meeting referred to the racetrack as anything other than “Fairmount.” The only time the name “FanDuel” came up was when Accel executives confirmed that a partnership with the sportsbook would continue Fairmount received IRB permission to change its scheduled Nov 9 and 12 dates this autumn to three Thursdays in October (17 16 program by means of adding extra races on other days dovetailing with the second day of the Breeders' Cup simulcast The request was made to get a jump on racino construction A temporary gaming facility will go up before the permanent one at a later date the president and general manager at Fairmount acknowledged “there's not a lot of horse experience” in the new ownership group [and] I think we're finally at that point where we're going to see slots.” Purses for 2025 at Fairmount are projected to be $5.5 million No corresponding 2025 purse figure for Hawthorne was stated at the meeting Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Jim Watkins told the IRB that his organization concurs with the new Fairmount regime on race dates and a vision for the future Watkins said a contract is in place through the current year and that a renewal is in the works that he believes will include keeping Fairmount open for off-season training “I'm very confident that with the resources available to Accel the backside is going to look a lot different” in 2025 Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts. Copy Article Link Editor / News Stories:editor@thetdn.com Advertising:advertising@thetdn.com Customer Service:customerservice@thetdn.com Click Here to sign up for a free subscription Trains powered by electricity rather than diesel fuel are not scheduled to begin rolling on the Fairmount Line for years but public officials are so excited about the now-concrete plans for more frequent service with less pollution that they gathered in the hot sun Tuesday morning to celebrate an achievement that likely won’t be attained until 2028 The MBTA voted July 25 to approve a $54 million contract with Keolis the company that operates commuter rail for the MBTA to bring battery electric service to the Fairmount Line that runs from South Station through Dorchester “I just can’t wait ’til it’s done,” Marilyn Forman a co-chair of the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition who works on housing production at the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation said at a press conference at Morton Street Station in Mattapan on Tuesday who has myriad priorities hung up in the Legislature promised the state’s approach to the project would be “pedal to the metal on all of this.” The idea has been “talked about for years,” the governor said The nine-station Fairmount Line runs through areas that suffer from higher rates of air pollution and ridership on it has more than doubled compared to pre-pandemic counts its relatively short length and its proximity to electric infrastructure helped make it a good fit for battery-electric service “We chose to submit an innovation proposal because we have the skills and we have the knowledge to deliver this project quickly and efficiently,” John Killeen vice president of asset management at Keolis “Keolis will manage this project including the procurement of financing We will bring our international skills and expertise to ensure that this project is a success.” Fairmount Line trains currently run on 30-minute intervals and plans call for arrivals on a 20-minute frequency once the line is electrified He said transportation accounts for 38 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts and the T accounts for 1 percent of those emissions will cut fuel use by 1.6 million gallons per year Areas along the T’s Providence Line have electrification potential and electrification is being examined in an environmental justice corridor on the Newburyport-Rockport line but we’re bringing it within our lifetimes,” Eng said so we know that this technology works in other parts of the world The key is how do we make it work here for us.” While Fairmount is poised to become the first commuter rail line in Massachusetts to become fully electrified Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the project would electrify “one of the last remaining diesel commuter rail lines in the country.” “It’s not just about saying the words to be a green community,” Wu said “This is about tangible benefits that our residents who live here that workers who are getting to their jobs that visitors and tourists and everyone we welcome in our community will be able to feel every single day.” Liz Miranda said she was encouraged by the promise of more frequent service on the “Purple Line,” as she said it’s called in areas it serves She said every state resident deserves access to safe reliable transit and recalled years earlier in her life when she didn’t want to ride on the Fairmount Line because it was “scary used to take and now we don’t have to wait for two buses and a train anymore,” Miranda said not only waiting only 20 minutes but to make sure that it gets to downtown quicker so that we can get to work or get to school.” “You all have to understand that this train ran through our Black community regularly and did not stop to pick us up I need you to think about that -- a diesel train running through a predominately Black and brown community not even having the intentionality to pick us up to let us go to work.” The state calls battery-electric multiple unit trains BEMUs and says they use hybrid power with an onboard battery that charges when overhead catenary wires are available emitting less air pollution and reducing energy consumption and providing passengers with smoother rides The MBTA has been stung over the years by contractors who have not delivered new trains on time “We’re really mindful of what we enter into when we sign these contracts,” Healey told reporters after Tuesday’s press conference when asked about the anticipated electric trains You can’t play with us if you can’t perform I’m confident in the deals that we have now and we’re going to continue to stay on this as a team to see this through.” Your essential daily newsletter delivering trusted news and can't miss programs from Boston and beyond The Fairmount Fire Protection District made it official and became Arvada Fire Protection District at 00:01 on January 1st Both districts were proactive throughout 2024 in preparation of the anticipated merger with multi-company training drills and working on response plans Some of the quotes from the department: “We’ve already blended all the crews and Arvada firefighters on Fairmount rigs.” said District Chief Jamie Denison Fairmount Fire Board President Jack Major said that “our department’s work and mirror each other very well It really made sense for us to combine forces.” “Over the years the smaller district has faced increasing operational challenges it would often rely on and work with the larger Arvada District” “24/7 Fire Based EMS as well as 24/7 Ambulance present” speaks to the benefits of advanced coverage for citizens of Fairmount Arvada Fire now has more than 200 employees The merge was able to create several new additions to the district including positions that included the creation of 3 District Chiefs who will supervise the three on-duty shifts 3 Safety and Medical (SAM) Officers who will provide additional medical supervision and response to each on-duty shift and the creation of a Captain within the Community Risk Reduction Division The merge also provided the personnel to staff an additional 24/7 Advanced Life Support Ambulance equipped with a Firefighter Paramedic and a Firefighter EMT This ambulance is currently housed at Station 61 and running as Medic 58 (previously known as Fairmount Station 32) The district has 11 fire stations covering an area of approximately 120 square miles throughout Jefferson County the northern portion of the City of Wheat Ridge and other portions of unincorporated Jefferson County Fairmount Fire was officially established in 1962 and covered 75 square miles in Jefferson County with a total population of approximately 35,000 which includes parts of Arvada the Ralston Reservoir and parts of Coal Creek Canyon and White Ranch Open Space Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA baseball field in Fairmount Park was flooded for a year It illustrates the challenges of park maintenance.Staff shortages and limited resources are some of the challenges Parks and Recreation faces when balancing needs across the city The hole, positioned in front of the pitcher’s mound, appeared seemingly overnight last March and was relatively small. Yet the amount of water bubbling out of it and through the first baseline of a baseball field in East Fairmount Park left the diamond practically unserviceable all year then-baseball coach of the Friends Select School baseball team which uses the field in the spring for practice and games He’s also the father to a current senior on the team “All of our home games were played at the opposing teams’ fields.” The team made the best out of the situation practicing around the wet dirt deposits and embracing a “road warrior” mentality Sometimes they’d practice on the roof where the girls’ field hockey team plays Parents and students figured the source of the flood would eventually be tackled considering the field sits in one of the city’s marquee parks and is also used by residents Yet the leak at the diamond on 3800 Mount Pleasant Drive illustrates a much larger issue facing the city: The need for high-quality fields exceeds the supply With limited resources, Parks and Recreation has historically prioritized field maintenance based on usage The department said it is also juggling the maintenance of recreation centers and the winterizing of the city’s 65 pools The department has to balance routine maintenance and the issues raised by community members According to the department said “limited staffing due to challenges in hiring skilled trades” and severe weather can affect the speed of work Semel and other parents grew frustrated to see the giant puddle of water remain unaddressed and freezing over in colder weather They had tried going to their Council member Jeffery Young and Parks and Recreation to no avail Parents ultimately opted for a method of last resort to get answers: going to the media Parks and Recreation attributed the flood to a small water main leak and said they have tried to make repairs twice though the department did not say why these repairs didn’t take “The frozen ground has made repairs more challenging but we’re working on a permanent fix and expect to complete the job within a week,” said a statement “We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to parents it would be a satisfying ending for the groups that use that particular baseball diamond in East Fairmount Park According to the Trust for Public Lands (TPL), a nonprofit that annually scores park systems in the 100 most populated American cities, Philadelphia placed 32nd in the 2024 rankings While the city had always scored highest in accessibility — 96% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park — its ranking is almost always hurt by how little it sees in per capita investment compared to other cities like Baltimore and Pittsburgh With the department’s attention needed in so many places parks and fields often end up being regularly cared for by “friends of” groups or schools like Friends Select » READ MORE: One of Philly’s most historic baseball fields is in disarray. Neighborhood activists are asking for help. said most park systems are 90 to 95% funded by their local governments he said only 70% of park funding comes from the city “When you’re consistently ranked as one of the bottom 20 of the 100 biggest cities in the country on investments in your maintenance team it’s hard to do the job that you want to be able to do,” said Klein While Parks might be limited in the funding it has to work with TPL vice president Owen Franklin said the cost of maintaining a public space appropriately over time is much more efficient than letting the deferred maintenance create the need to build a whole new park “We have under-prioritized maintenance for generations and have not developed the muscle and the funding discipline to provide for it,” said Franklin Klein and Owens say parks are viewed as a quality of life amenity or as nice to have when they should be viewed as an important element of civic infrastructure Officials need look no further than the pandemic years the parent of another senior on the Friends Select baseball team really grateful” a permanent fix is in the works but the flooded diamond snafu is bigger than Friends Select’s baseball team and where they practice It’s about the community and how the city presents itself to the country DiCicco is tired of seeing national media taint the city’s big moments with old “It does kind of get your goat when out-of-towners come in on a national broadcast and they don’t paint the city in the best light and if we let us got into disrepair they’ve got more ammunition,” he said