Fox Chase Cancer Center:
Expanding for Life at Burholme Park

In 2002, Fox Chase Cancer Center's leadership considered its patient volume, the demographics of cancer in an aging population and its current capacity and concluded that, for Fox Chase to remain competitive as one of the world's outstanding comprehensive cancer centers and meet the present and future needs of cancer patients, it had to significantly expand its facilities. Given the organization's core belief that both its successful outcomes and its competitive advantage are based on the ability of its various physicians and researchers to collaborate in both patient care and translational research, a premium was placed on focusing the core of its services on one central campus. After exploring various options, the decision was made to pursue expansion within Burholme Park.

Recreational Areas and Ryerss Mansion Will Remain Untouched
The expansion, expected to take place over 20 to 25 years in five phases, would require 19.4 acres of the 69-acre park and would encompass most of the land that makes up the privately-run Burholme Park Golf Center, which features a driving range and batting cages. The original donation of Burholme Park from Robert Waln Ryerss to the City occurred in 1905 and was only 45 acres; ten years later the City obtained a parcel of land approximately 21 acres adjacent to Burholme Park. With the addition of the 21 acres, the land remaining after the lease of 19.4 acres will still be larger than that originally devised by Ryerss. The plan to expand the Center is also expected to cost between $800 million and $1 billion and would create more than 4,000 permanent jobs.

Expansion Supported by City Council, Mayor Nutter & Fairmount Park Commission
The Fairmount Park Commission approved the plan in March of 2005, and a bill approving the lease to Fox Chase passed Philadelphia's City Council unanimously and was signed into law by Mayor Michael Nutter in March of 2008.

Fox Chase Cancer Center to Pay City Over $12 Million
During negotiations with the City, Fox Chase agreed to pay the City up to $12.25 million, of which $1.25 million is specifically designated for the maintenance, repair and improvement of Burholme Park; $7 million designated for the entire Fairmount Park system; and $4 million designated to the Capital Budget's Improvement to Existing Facilities (ITEF) fund to purchase as its highest priority open space in the 10th City Council District, where the Park is located.

Opposition
A small group of neighbors who have opposed this expansion since the concept was first publicly discussed in 2005 filed suit in Orphans Court in the summer of 2008 to block the transfer.

King's Bench Appeal Denied
Arguing that leasing parkland goes against both the will and the spirit of Robert Waln Ryerss, whose 1895 bequest of his mansion and surrounding property created the park, as well as Fairmount Park's public trust, the hearing before Judge John W. Herron began in August of 2008, and a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs preventing the lease was issued on December 9th, 2008. On December 24, 2008, the Center initiated the process of appealing the decision with a petition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to take King's Bench jurisdiction. The Center was notified on February 27, 2009 that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the King's Bench appeal.

Fox Chase appealed its case to the state Commonwealth Court. On June 8, 2009, Judges James Flaherty, Renee Cohn Jubelirer and Joseph McCloskey heard both sides of the case in a Philadelphia courtroom filled with a number of our supporters and neighbors. A decision is expected within 60 days, however the losing side may file an appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court at that time.

Expansion is critical to Fox Chase's ability to save lives, develop new treatments for cancer, and provide thousands of good-paying jobs for local residents. As such, the Center's Board and leadership will continue to evaluate the best course of action to enable expansion to occur.