That's classic DiBerardinis talk, informed by his Jesuit schooling and years as a community organizer in Kensington in the 1970s and '80s. He's a high-energy, no-bull official, who sees potential on the horizon at all times and deeply believes that improving park and recreation services will help children in Philadelphia succeed.
Running Parks and Recreation is a homecoming of sorts for DiBerardinis, 60, who served as recreation commissioner under then-Mayor Rendell from 1992 through 1999, winning accolades for enhancing programs and reviving battered rec centers and playgrounds.
But this time around, the job - which includes oversight of libraries - is more complicated.
"It's a tough job to merge two departments that have historically operated separately, all at a time when budgets are shrinking and demand for service is rising," said Mayor Nutter, who called DiBerardinis the obvious pick for the role.
On July 1, the Recreation and Parks departments officially merge into one unit with more than 600 workers and a roughly $50 million budget, as well as vast acres of parkland, rec centers, pools and playgrounds across the city. During the past year, DiBerardinis has been figuring out the organizational structure and in the coming months will be moving staff and resources around to fully blend the offices.
"We're not going to do this again, so we have to do this right," DiBerardinis said.
DiBerardinis thinks the new department will provide better services and programs for children.
This week, he drove out to Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive for a meeting that he said exemplified the new department - with organizers of a rowing program for city kids that relies on city land and seasonal staff, as well as and private dollars.
