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Barbara Capozzi still has found memories of hanging out with her father Ludwig S. Capozzi Jr., who built the original Packer Park, as a child. At the age of 6, she was hanging out in the sample homes that sold for $11,000. Several years later, in 1992 to be exact, she got married and officlaly moved into the neighborhood. Capozzi also started working for her dad on Packer Avenue. It was just the latest chapter in this lifelong love affair with the community where she has served as president of its civic association since ’94. Readers’ Choice voters seem to share a similar passion as they crowned it with the top neighborhood honor.
“On behalf of the Packer Park Civic Association, we are thrilled to be voted best neighborhood to live (and work too),” Capozzi said. “We all work hard here to motivate our residents to keep the appearance of their homes lovely, green, well lit and clean. We also work hard through the SCSSD [Sports Complex Special Services District] to keep our area protected from stadium goers and the millions of fans that descend on our area annually. The SCSSD also augments the City’s dwindling services to plant and prune our street trees, to clean streets after stadium events and to host community events for all of our residents.”
Like many of its neighboring communities, Packer Park is home to some treasured assets that include FDR Park, Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, and its ample green space, 18-hole public golf course and tennis courts; being within walking distance of South Philadelphia’s entertainment mecca known also known as the sports complex; and, of course, the friendly residents.
“Neighbors look out for neighbors, which helps keep crime down and strengthens the community’s stability,” Capozzi said.
Like her fellow neighbors, she plans on calling Packer Park home for many more years to come.
“What keeps me here are the many wonderful neighbors and also FDR Park, I wish I could convince everyone from every neighborhood to love FDR Park as their own backyard,” Capozzi said.
Marconi claimed a second-place residency while Girard Estate plotted third.
Contact Editor Bill Gelman at bgelman@southphillyreview.com or ext. 121.
2014 Readers’ Choice Awards
Cuisine
Steak ‘Em Up French fries
Philip’s Steaks and Geno’s Steaks (tie) Cheesesteak
PrimoHoagies Hoagie
Lil Nick’s Deli Specialty sandwich
City Pizza Pizza crust
Green Eggs Cafe Brunch menu
Penrose Diner Omelet selection/Diner
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant Date night/BYOB
Ristorante Pesto Italian restaurant
Johnny Chang’s Ethnic restaurant (non-Italian)
Breezy’s Café New restaurant (January 2013 to present)
Stogie Joe’s Tavern Bar menu
Nick Elmi Top chef
Sweet Tooth
Isgro Pastries Cannoli/Bakery
Pop’s Water Ice Gelati
Potito’s Cupcakes
Termini Bros Cookies
People
Jason Douglas DJ
The Business Local band
Bobby Rydell South Philly celebrity
Dana Smith Elementary school teacher
Vikings Mummers Brigade
Carl Arrigale High school coach
Neumann-Goretti High school team
Bryan Hughes Youth/recreation league coach
Nick Foles Philly pro athlete
Places
DiBruno Bros. Italian specialty store
Galdo’s Catering Hall
Ten Pennies Florist
Monti Rago Funeral Home, Inc., Funeral home
Packer Park Neighborhood
Epiphany of Our Lord Church Church
Lombardi’s Prime Meats Butcher shop
TLA Music venue
On the Move
Planet Fitness Gym/health club
DanceAdelphia Ballet program
Barry Playground Community pool
Fitness Works Place to take a Pilates class
And Let’s Not Forget
Bartender Category not on this list
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