City of Philadelphia
BILL
NO. 170673
Introduced June 22, 2017
Councilmembers Jones and Johnson
Referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
AN
ORDINANCE
Authorizing the Parks and Recreation
Commissioner, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an agreement
for the use of Cobbs Creek Golf Club, Karakung Golf Club, and the City Line Sports Center, under
which the operator will restore, maintain and operate those facilities as a
single, first-class public golf course, under certain terms and conditions.
BACKGROUND
1. Cobbs Creek
Golf Course is famous in United States’ golf history. It was designed in 1912
by Hugh Wilson, the noted golf course architect who also designed Merion Golf
Club, which hosted the U.S. Open in 1971, 1981, and again in 2013.
2. Since its initial development, Cobbs Creek Golf Course has been reconfigured and changed
significantly. In addition, Cobbs Creek periodically
floods portions of Cobbs Creek Golf Club and Karakung Golf Club, which interrupts play for extended
periods and requires repeated repairs. The golf courses are also subject to
vandalism, including from unauthorized persons driving all-terrain vehicles,
motorbikes, and other vehicles over them. The City Line Sports Center is in
deteriorated condition.
3. The City wants restoration of Cobbs Creek Golf Club to include important environmental
and recreational improvements that will benefit nearby neighborhoods and all
Philadelphia’s citizens, including the following:



A. Conversion of approximately 160,000
square feet of impervious paved surface into landscaped recreation space, which
will create a net addition of approximately four acres of new landscaped
recreation space.
B. Extensive improvements to Cobbs Creek to greatly reduce the frequency and severity of
the creek flooding.
C. Creation of not less than 40 acres of
new wetlands, which will help protect Cobbs Creek and
help support plant and animal species that thrive in wetlands.
D. An economic opportunity program that
emphasizes hiring employees from the local community.
E. Reduced fees for Philadelphia
residents and subsidized golf and education programs for Philadelphia youths.
F. A restaurant open to members of the
public.
G. Support for public high school golf
programs and a high school golf team.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION
1. The Parks and Recreation Commissioner, on behalf of the City of
Philadelphia, is authorized by this Ordinance to enter into an agreement for
the use of Cobbs Creek Golf Club, Karakung
Golf Club, and the City Line Sports Center, under which the operator will
restore, maintain, and operate those facilities as a single, first- class
public golf course.
SECTION 2. The agreement authorized by
this Ordinance must comply substantially with the term sheet attached to this
Ordinance as Exhibit A.
SECTION 3. The City Solicitor is
authorized by this Ordinance to review and to approve the lease and all
instruments and documents necessary to effectuate this Ordinance, and to make
changes to those documents as the City Solicitor deems necessary or appropriate
to protect the interests of the City, as are consistent with the attached
lease, and to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance.

Exhibit A

Agreement For Use
Of
Cobbs Creek Golf Club, Karakung
Golf Club, and the City Line Sport Center
1. Term: Up to 70 years.
Initial Term: 30 years.
Renewal Terms: 15 years, 15
years, and 10 years.
2. Location: Along Cobbs Creek
Parkway and Lansdowne Drive.
3.
Operator’s obligations:
A.
$20
million capital investment for improvements, including
B.
(1) flood control
improvements to Cobbs Creek;
(2) creation of
not less than 40 acres of new wetlands; (3) remove acres of impervious surfaces
(paved golf cart
paths).
C.
Restore Cobbs Creek Golf Club, Karakung
Golf Club, and the City Line Sports Center into a single, first-class public
golf course on the level of the very best public golf courses in the country.
D.
Construct
a new clubhouse building with modern facilities and a restaurant open to the
public.
E.
Manage and
operate the Premises as a public golf course.
F.
All
maintenance and repairs.
G.
Create and
maintain a Capital Reserve Account to help fund future capital repairs and
replacements to the Premises.
4.
Special
programs and offerings:

A.
A "Community Engagement and Access Plan" for
community support for the restoration, programming at the Premises, and access
to employment opportunities at the Premises.
B.
Course availability for Philadelphia residents at
rates below regular fees during set times of day, set days of the week, and set
weeks or months of the year.
C.
Free or subsidized introductory golf instruction,
sportsmanship, and other educational programs for Philadelphia youths and
adults.
D.
Caddy scholarship program for Philadelphia youths
to help pay higher education costs.
E.
Permit the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia,
Inc. to operate youth golf instruction programs.
F.
Support for high school golf programs and a high
school golf team.
5. Permitted Uses:
A.
Public
golf course.
B.
Clubhouse:
(1) food and beverage sales (including alcoholic beverages);
(2)
rest rooms and locker rooms;
(3) offices;
(4) learning space for
the golf and educational programs; (5) fundraising events;
(6) equipment
and supplies storage;
(7) a pro shop;
(8) souvenir and merchandise
sales.
C.
Host
professional and amateur golf tournaments.
D.
Rentals
for public and private events.
6. City’s financial obligations: None.

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