There are numerous organizations in the public and nonprofit sector involved in creating, managing, and advocating for green space in our neighborhoods. Here is a starting place for those interested in learning more:
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
The leader behind Green2015, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will be tasked with implementing and facilitating most of its early action projects going forward. PPR also coordinated with over 170 Friends groups throughout the city that volunteer to clean and steward existing park spaces.
Contact: 215-683-3600; green2015@phila.gov; facebook page
Mayor's Office of Sustainability
In Mayor Michael Nutter’s January 2008 inaugural address, he pledged to make Philadelphia the number one green city in America. To make good on his pledge, he created the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Greenworks Philadelphia was released in spring of 2009, and in the first year of implementation the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and partners made great strides toward making Philadelphia more sustainable. In May of 2010, it presented its first annual progress report. For information on any green-related initiatives in Philadelphia, check out the Mayor's Office of Sustainability.
Contact: 215-686-3495; mos@phila.gov; facebook page
Philadelphia Green (a program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society)
For more than 30 years the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Green program has used horticulture to build community and improve the quality of life in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and downtown public spaces. In that time there have been significant signs of rebirth in the city, and the work of Philadelphia Green has played an important role in the environmental, social, economic, and aesthetic changes taking place.
Contact: 215-998-8880; pginfo@pennhort.org; facebook page
Commission on Parks and Recreation
The Parks and Recreation Commission was constituted in July 2009, following the passage of an amendment to the Home Rule Charter which transferred the powers and duties of the Fairmount Park Commission to a new Department of Parks and Recreation and reconstituted the Fairmount Park Commission as the Commission on Parks and Recreation (PaRC). PaRC's charge is to develop and adopt written, enforceable standards related to the use of the city's park and recreational land and facilities, make recommendations to enhance revenue opportunities, and assist in promoting parks and recreational facilities and programs. Its goal is to increase the visibility and enormous opportunities that Philadelphia has to recapture its position as the nation's leader in the park and recreation field and sustain the legacy of William Penn's "greene countrie town." Your Commission on Parks and Recreation (PaRC) is eager to work with you to provide the very best ideas and recommendations to our elected and appointed officials concerning the protection, preservation and promotion of Philadelphia's historical, cultural, environmental and recreational resources and programs.
Contact: parksandreccommission@phila.gov; blog
The mission of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance (PPA) is to mobilize community support, build coalitions, educate the public and otherwise advocate for constructive changes that will bring about superior systems of parks and open space throughout Philadelphia. PPA takes the position that Philadelphia’s parks are an extraordinary public asset that offer a unique opportunity to enhance the City and region, and that maintaining, funding and championing these parks can be achieved most effectively by partnerships between city government and the parks’ users and beneficiaries. PPA can be contacted about general issues with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation or inquiries regarding specific park spaces.
Contact: 215-879-8159; friends@philaparks.org
The Fairmount Park Conservancy is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of the Greater Philadelphia Region through the financial support of the Fairmount Park system. The Conservancy actively supports initiatives that improve the environment, spark community revitalization, encourage recreation and tourism and preserve historic treasures. Recent successes by the Conservancy include leading a revitalization plan for Hunting Park and raising funds to restore the Fairmount Water Works.
Contact: 215-988-9334; info@fairmountparkconservancy.org; facebook page
Philadelphia City Planning Commission
The City Planning Commission is responsible for guiding the orderly growth and development of the City of Philadelphia. Though not charged with creating parks, the Community Planning Division of the Planning Commission staff have extensive knowledge on the goings on in neighborhoods across the city. Plus, as part of the PHILADELPHIA2035 comprehensive planning process, the staff will be commencing the district planning process in which they will create five-year plans for all of Philadelphia's neighborhoods. For any sort of planning-related information, please contact the Planning Commission.
Contact: 215-683-4615; info@philaplanning.org; facebook page
Other organizations to contact:
- If you are interested in matters relating to the Schuylkill River Trail, contact the Schuylkill River Development Corporation and Complete the Schuylkill River Trail.
- If you are interested in matters relating to the Delaware waterfront, contact either the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (from Oregon Avenue to Allegheny Avenue) or the Delaware River City Corporation (north of Allegheny Avenue). For a coalition of citizens interested in public space along the central Delaware, contact the Central Delaware Advocacy Group.
- If you are interested in efforts around extending the East Coast Greenway through Philadelphia, contact the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
- If you are interested in efforts related to safe bicycle access, contact the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
- If you are interested in greening efforts in Eastern North Philadelphia, contact Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha.
- If you are interested in greening efforts launched by community development corporations, contact the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations. Some already doing related work include New Kensington CDC, The Enterprise Center CDC (Walnut Hill, West Philadelphia), The Partnership CDC (Haddington, West Philadelphia), People's Emergency Center CDC (Powelton, Mantua, West Philadelphia), Francisville Neighborhood Development Corporation, and Nicetown CDC.
PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future