Next Great City: Philadelphia - Volume IV, Issue IX

 

 

Next Great City

  

NEWSLETTER
Next Great City: Philadelphia

 

 

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY GREENWORKS

  

VOLUME IV,
ISSUE IX

 

 Kids playing in Carroll Park, an example of treasured public green space in Philadelphia.

Podcast

Listen to the PennFuture podcast at http://www.pennfuturepodcast.org/

Includes interviews with Urban Sustainability Forum speakers and more!

 

Questions or Comments?

Email Christine at:knapp@pennfuture.org or call 215-545-9692

Don't forget to visit our website at: http://www.nextgreatcity.org/

  

 

Greenworks Philadelphia is getting an impressive present for its first birthday!  After only a year of work on the City's sustainability framework, Philadelphia was named winner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center's Siemens Sustainable Community Award in the large-community category.

For a better look at the great work that earned the City this award, check out the Mayor's Office of Sustainability's First Annual Progress Report event May 26 at 10:30 a.m. at 9th and Norris streets in the Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha service area in Eastern North Philadelphia. For more information contact Sarah Wu.

  

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

 

Concerned citizen? Planning geek? SimCity fanatic? Now's your chance to help shape the future of Philadelphia. In addition to rewriting the City's ancient zoning code, Philadelphia is looking to overhaul the city plan between now and spring 2011. As part of PHILADELPHIA2035, the comprehensive plan that will guide the City's growth for the next 25 years, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission is hosting a series of public meetings to hear your vision of Philadelphia in 2035, so find a meeting near you and make your voice heard.

If 25 years seems too far out in the future, think about how the city's landscape could change in a mere five years.  Green2015 is a project led by the Department of Parks and Recreation in coordination with Greenworks Philadelphia and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission to shape the Mayor's action plan to create 500 new acres of public green space throughout the city. Attend one of the civic engagement meetings conducted by the Department's nonprofit partners, PennPraxis, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Penn Project for Civic Engagement, and share why green space is important to you and your community.

 

WHO WILL TELL THE PEOPLE?

 

Scientists who study the environment and global warming warn us at every turn that dramatic changes are afoot. Why don't the headlines of media convey a sense of urgency? What is the best way to get the message of climate change to citizens? What obligations do the media have? What prevents them from telling the story?

On May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Urban Sustainability Forum will take a look at how the media covers issues of science, how shrinking budgets and disappearing science desks are impacting coverage, and how niche media sources are filling a void in sharing vital information. Register to confirm your seat.

 

GET YOUR BIKE ON

 

May is National Bike Month and today is the first day of Bike to Work Week.  From the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's urban bike riding classes to the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, whatever your level or style, there's a cycling event for you this week, so get out there and get moving!

 

PARKS: KNOW THEM, LOVE THEM, HELP FUND THEM

 

Healthy parks are a community asset they improve public health by providing spaces for outdoor recreation and exercise, reduce sewage back-ups by managing stormwater, raise property values, and contribute to neighborhood cohesion. However, poorly maintained parks do quite the opposite by contributing to urban decay and becoming magnets for crime. 

Keeping our parks well maintained, safe, and attractive requires sufficient funding for the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Mayor's proposed $3.3 million increase in the newly combined department's operating budget, $5.4 million in capital for parks and $5 million in capital for recreation is the right thing to do for our communities, our economy, and our environment. This money would be used for much needed maintenance, tree planting, youth programming, and safety and security measures.

Let City Council know you support additional funding for Parks & Recreation, which will help our parks to realize their full potential, and learn more about the deparment by attending a public meeting of the Commission on Parks & Recreation this Wednesday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

 

GREEN BUILDING LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

 

The City of Philadelphia has made some big strides recently around green building, with the passage of Councilwoman Reynolds Brown LEED-Silver legislation and Councilman Kenney's Cool Roofs bill. The state is also considering taking some positive steps to support more sustainable building practices through House Bill 444 and Senate Bill 728, which would require that high performance green building standards be implemented in most new or remodeled building projects owned or funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

To share how these bills will grow the green building sector, create green jobs, provide healthier work and learning environments, and save taxpayers money through long-term energy savings, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council is holding a forum on June 4 at 8 a.m. at Tozour Energy Systems' LEED-registered building. Register today.

 

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