The Philadelphia Commission on Parks and Recreations has officially killed the proposed plan to build a $100M LEED Platinum Certified velodrome cycle-track in FDR Park. Project 250, the development team behind the 'drome, presented its controversial plans in December, and as predicted, the plans were met with no small amount of resistance from neighbors. In its recent determination letter, Parks and Recreations stated that "although the velodrome is conceptually a worthwhile project, the application fails to meet all three requirements of the [land protection] ordinance."
Plans for the facility had included the 6,000 seat cycling racing track, community programming, clinics, as well as uses beyond the cycling community, such as concerts. But the determination letter detailed that using this parkland for a velodrome would disturb a large portion of the park's offerings, and that the improvements promised for the park would not outweigh the negative impact the facility would have on the park. No word on if Project 250 has identified an alternated location for the 'drome. But NI[Our]BY, clearly.
· Project 250 ruled as unsuitable for FDR Park [Passyunk Post]
· Will this "world class" velodrome get built inside FDR Park? [Curbed Philly]
· Community responds to proposed velodrome [Curbed Philly]
· Velodrome determination letter (PDF)
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