[UC] Park volunteers honored

[Anthony West]

The Philadelphia Recreation Advisory Council last night included two well-known Clark Park volunteers in its annual awards program.   Fran Byers was given a "Distinguished Service Award" for more than 30 years of service to the park. Byers, who has lived all her life on Baltimore Ave., is a founding member of Friends of Clark Park and has, over the years, filled every imaginable office for that group. She was a driving force behind the fight to keep the "Little Nell" statue from being removed. Currently she sits on the Board of Directors. She helps to pull together the "Bark in the Park" f�te for dogs and their owners, the outdoor Christmas caroling, and the Dickens Birthday Party celebration.   Paul Brooks was given an "Adult Volunteer" award. Brooks, who lives on Regent St., has been active in FoCP for more than 10 years. He is a former president of the organization. Currently he organizes the hugely successful Clark Park Youth Soccer Program. Brooks founded CPYSL and has built it up from scratch since then. Today it provides 120 children on 20 spring and fall Saturdays with low-competition soccer. It is one of only two youth soccer programs in West Philadelphia and serves a diverse group of kids from far and wide.   -- Tony West