Maura Kennedy, a spokeswoman for Mayor Nutter, said, "The city is aware of the issue and is investigating the complaints."
Through a representative, PPA executive director Vince Fenerty said his agency "is always willing to work with the city and members of City Council on matters of public safety and proposals such as Councilman Kenney's." - Miriam Hill
LOVE Park's new visitor
Over the years, there's never quite been a consensus about what to do with the spaceship-like building that sits in LOVE Park. Tear it down? Convert it to a restaurant? Allow the neighboring rat population to formally take ownership?
Well, the building is still standing, rat-free, and it is going back to its roots as a central source of information for tourists.
In 2001, the building then known as the Philadelphia Visitor Center was shut down. That's because of the opening that year of the larger and sleeker (and privately run) Independence Visitor Center, at Sixth and Market Streets.
Then-Mayor John F. Street tried to pump some life into the building by putting dining tables on its perimeter and regularly lunching there with some of his staff.
Three years ago, along came Fairmount Park, which reopened the facility as the Fairmount Park Welcome Center to publicize - you guessed it - Fairmount Park attractions.
But in recent weeks, the welcome center got a new partner - its old rival, the Independence Visitor Center.
"It opens us up to a whole new population of visitors who may not be making it down to the historic area," said James Cuorato, president of the Independence Visitor Center.
Cuorato's group has partnered with Fairmount Park to run the building and to expand its services so that it now sells tickets for most city attractions. For the first time, drinks and snacks are also available for purchase there.
