New Parks for Philadelphians

Share On Social!

Grass is greener on the other side, or maybe just a 10-minute walk away.

Green 2015 and the national Trust for Public Land are working under the program Parks for People- Philadelphia to bring in new parks and green spaces to Philadelphia’s underserved communities. A study from Green 2015 showed that one in eight Philadelphia residents don’t have access to public parks or green space within a short distance from home. Eighty percent of Americans are living in urban or metropolitan areas, where these green spaces offer the closest way for many Latino kids to get the exercise they need on a daily basis.

Philadelphia’s new initiative is to create suitable green spaces within a 10-minute walk of every home in the city. This goal is under a program called Parks for People- Philadelphia. The program is working to make these new areas a reality by targeting nine public schoolyards and recreation centers in need of renovations. Danielle Denk, the program manager at the Trust for Public Land said that they are focusing on areas that are underserved, that have not been invested in, and that have dense communities around them. Back in 2012, the program launched the first renovated sites at the William Dick Elementary  School and the Hank Gathers Recreation Center. See the photo below to see how they worked with the students to transform the space.

See the photo below to see how they worked with the students to transform the space.

Parks for People – Philadelphia is working in partnership with various Philadelphia public partners, local communities and organizations to make the greener side of life, just a hop, skip and jump away. To learn more about their efforts, click here.