DV Journal

Wednesday would have been Fanta Bility’s 12th birthday.

But instead of a cake, presents, and a party for a smiling girl, her family gathered on a cold January day to dedicate a Sharon Hill park, where she played as a child, to her memory.

Fanta was 8 years old when she died on Aug. 27, 2021, felled by bullets from police as she left a high school football game with her family. Her sister, Mamasu, was injured. The police had fired into the crowd by mistake that evening, reacting to nearby gunshots.

Fanta’s mother, Tenneh Kromah, spoke briefly, thanking the crowd for coming, then, overcome with emotion, she could say no more.

Siddiq Kamara, Fanta’s cousin, thinks of Fanta every day.

“One of our goals was to keep Fanta’s name alive. That’s why my aunt and I came together and created the Fanta Bility Foundation. Keeping Fanta’s name alive and her legacy with the Sharon Hill Borough and council brought this idea to name the playground.

While Fanta is not here physically, “her spirit is here today.”

Fanta Bility (CREDIT: Facebook)

“Today is also Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. I would say that Fanta and Dr. King were great figures.  Fanta had a blessed heart. It is a very emotional day for my family and I…We’re truly grateful for this,” said Kamara.

Dawn Chavous, a foundation spokeswoman said, “This day is a reminder of the vibrant young girl she was, full of life, promise and a love for others. While she is no longer with us physically, Fanta’s spirit lives on.”

She also mentioned that Fanta and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared the same birthday, Jan. 15.

“Their lives, though cut short, serve as a powerful example of service, compassion and resilience,” said Chavous. King left “a legacy of peace and activism that continues to inspire generations. Fanta, though only 8 years old when her life was taken, was known for her kind heart and her desire to help others in her community. Their shared birthday is a poignant reminder regardless of age. Both were committed to lifting those around them and making the world a better place.”

Sharon Hill Council President Tanya Allen said, “The reality is here in Sharon Hill, the fabric of our community has been forever changed by Fanta’s tragic death. And so, while today is about remembering her, we also want to mark today as a moment of unity. A moment going forward with renewed commitment to our community, our residents, our families…to the renewed vision of Sharon Hill Borough.”

Councilman William Felder called it “a bitter-flavored moment.”

“We lost a baby in our community. The only way we can stop this problem is if we all go to work in communities where we live and make a difference,” said Felder. “This is an everlasting tragedy. She will never get a chance to bring her children here to talk about how she played in this playground, how she walked these streets.”

Because of Fanta, police in Sharon Hill and across the state will get more training, said Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-Delaware).

“This baby made sure the adults stood up and held their government to account,” said Williams. “And that those who were involved were charged and responsibly dealt with.”

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said his office brought justice for Fanta and praised her family as “graceful and loving.”

“We’re always going to remember Fanta, both in Sharon Hill and Delaware County,” said Stollsteimer. Three former Sharon Hill officers pleaded guilty to 10 counts of reckless endangerment for shooting into a crowd leaving a football game. The precipitating gunfire came from a fight between Angelo “AJ” Ford and Hasein Strand, who are now serving prison sentences.

Michael Vanderveen, a lawyer whose firm represented the estate of Fanta Bility, spoke. The family had sued Sharon Hill over Fanta’s wrongful death, settling the case for $11 million.

“It may be cold in Pennsylvania, but it is warm here in Fanta Bility Park,” said Vanderveen. “It will always be a warm, safe place for people and their families to come.” The family had agreed to settle the suit with the conditions of a Fanta Bility Park in Sharon Hill, that the borough begin a Citizen’s Advisory Board for oversight in police officer hiring, and there will be deadly use of force training mandatory for all officers on the borough’s police force. “And it is Fanta’s spirit and her soul and watching down on all of us that can help make this community, all of our communities a better place.”

From a press release

For the first time in more than 30 years, Delaware County is getting a new County park. The county’s newest and largest county park will be located on the former Don Guanella site in Marple Township. The 213 acre park will be focused on the woodlands that now serve as one of the county’s largest forests.

Public input is a cornerstone of the project and will guide key elements of the plan. Delaware County is seeking fifteen community leaders to join the new Master Plan Advisory Committee for the former Don Guanella property. The new committee is part of a public planning process that began earlier this year in order to engage the public in the planning process for the conservation and public use of the 213-acre property.

The committee will meet an estimated six to eight times with the consulting team and key stakeholders from Delaware County through March 2023. Members will provide information, ideas, and perspectives to help develop a plan for the new park. The master plan, to be completed in the Spring of 2023, will be the guiding document that identifies long-term conservation, woodland protection, infrastructure, and recreation improvements for the future county park

“We are thrilled to begin planning work on the former Don Guanella site and we’d like to hear the community’s vision for what our newest and largest County park and forest could be,” said Elaine Schaefer, county Council vice-chair and liaison to the County’s  Parks and Recreation Department. “The property is already a cherished regional destination for many residents and we are excited to think big and expand opportunities for park users that are inclusive and forward-thinking. We want people of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds to feel welcome in our parks. That starts with hearing from the public.”

The future park consists of 213 acres and is home to woodlands, wetlands, grassland, and many wildlife species. The creation of a park on the Don Guanella tract is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create an open and accessible public space that will provide immediate and ongoing economic, environmental and quality of life benefits to Delaware County.

In June 2021, the County announced its intention to acquire the 213-acre Don Guanella parcel after its development into housing and institutional use was unanimously rejected by the Marple Township Board of Commissioners and opposed by the planning commission. In March 2022, Delaware County Council approved and funded a proposal to create a plan to transform the property into the largest public park in the county.

Members of the public will also have a chance to share their input and opinion through surveys, public meetings, and events even if they are not serving on the advisory board.  More information regarding ways to participate will be posted on the county’s website.

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