All children deserve places to run, play, laugh and gather with friends. Especially
the children of York City, who have limited access to safe outdoor play space.
At this time, York City maintains the city parks, but has limited resources to invest in
capital improvements. Thanks to the vision of one man, that’s about to change.
Because of his love of gardens, Louis Appell, Jr. invited the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
to York to share how it uses its conservancy to care for its parks, providing funds for
capital improvements like new playground equipment or replacing tennis courts. Years
later, this vision sparked the creation of the York City Parks Conservancy, which will raise $3
million to invest in an endowment with YCCF that will be used for park improvements.
Mr. Appell’s $750,000 lead gift from the Powder Mill Foundation and a second gift from former Yorker
and professional football coach Bruce Arians have made that goal achievable.
“Without the York City parks, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” claims Arians. He recalls the friendships he
made as a boy playing at Memorial Park in York and credits them for his interest in football and highly successful
career.
Proceeds from The York City Parks Conservancy Fund will allow the City to leverage additional state and private
sector resources to invest in the York City parks. Current priorities include the expansion of softball and baseball
fields and walking paths in Memorial Park, repaving tennis courts and restroom improvements to Farquhar Park and the
construction of a stage at Penn Park.
Who knows, maybe the next great football coach is playing at one of our City parks right now!
PARKS BY THE NUMBERS:
25 YORK CITY PARKS
193 TOTAL ACRES
LARGEST PARK IS MEMORIAL PARK AT 73 ACRES
43,865: POPULATION OF YORK CITY
12,450: NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN YORK CITY
$3,000,000 = FOREVER PRESERVED CITY PARKS
Support the York City Parks Conservancy with a gift in any amount!