Greener for All: How Philly is Expanding Equitable Park Access
The homebuying business in Philly has been booming. Why, you ask?
Philadelphia’s park system comprises iconic spaces such as Fairmount Park and Pennypack Park. However, urbanization has changed the game.
What’s Next in the Green Game?
Philadelphia has always been a home for everyone. People move to this city just to find the perfect home. And green spaces are an essential part of that move.
Change In Mindset, Worldwide
The world population is now more health-conscious. Everyone needs better air quality, daily outdoor exercise, and access to green spaces for relaxation. Due to this demand, Philly wants more green space for its people.
Importance of Equitable Park Access
Parks and green spaces are essential to urban living.
Studies indicate that access to green spaces can regulate stress levels and air quality. In today’s world, this boosts nearby property values.
412 houses, one of Pittsburgh’s top cash home buyers, feel that the houses near the park sell quickly and yield more profit. We also realized that “most cash buyers prefer to invest in houses near parks, schools, and greener areas.”
What Problems Do We Face Due To Poor Park Access?
However, a lack of equitable park access is rising in urban areas worldwide. Urbanization disrupts local biodiversity by removing all green spaces.
Philadelphia’s Green City Initiative
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s efforts to create a more equitable green space in urban areas include:
- PHS Green Equity Initiative: The Green City initiative will fund park improvements in underserved neighborhoods.
- Connecting People to Parks: The Green City initiative aims to improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure around parks. It makes it easier for people to access these green spaces.
- Greater Plans: Cleaning vacant plots and greening the surroundings impact the environment. More people should join PHS to make Philadelphia green for future generations.
Challenges
Green City initiatives are promising. But there’s still work to be done. Ongoing challenges include:
- Addressing safety concerns in certain areas.
- Inclusive park programming.
Rebuild Philadelphia
The Rebuild Philadelphia initiative will provide neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries. Soon, every Philadelphian will have access to high-quality, safe, and welcoming public spaces.
The 10-Minute Walk Campaign
The 10-Minute Walk Campaign emphasizes that by 2050, every city resident will have access to public green space. The parks will be within a 10-minute walking distance. Philadelphia is developing new green spaces and improving existing parks to achieve this goal. The plan also focuses on providing good park infrastructure.
Greening Schoolyards and Vacant Lots
Philadelphia is also transforming underutilized spaces into green areas. Schoolyards can serve as neighborhood parks. Additionally, vacant lots can turn into community gardens and mini-parks. Vacant lots can be sold to organizations to maximize their efforts.
Results Of the Green City Initiative
The recent revival of Hunting Park is proof that humanity can achieve goals when it comes together for a purpose. Philadelphia’s plans for equitable park access are improving residents’ well-being.
What Can We Do?
We were excited about these efforts and wanted to participate as well. Jon and the rest of the team came up with some ideas that we thought might help these initiatives:
- Invest in homes with green spaces to create a circular economy.
- Engage clients in the liv-work-play concept.
- Make physical improvements to the outdoors when flipping homes, thereby improving the quality of the neighborhoods.
- Offer clients information about the city’s efforts to improve the neighborhood so they can participate.
Final Thoughts
We at Brotherly Love Real Estate connect with many cash home buyers. We learned that people sell their houses when the surrounding gets too urbanized. More people prefer greener spaces, and property values are increasing in such areas.
I strongly believe that “Philadelphia’s efforts for equitable park access come at the right time.”
I am amazed by the efforts that have resulted in the newly renovated Piccoli Playground in Juanita Park. The rebuild was all about investing in cleaner and greener spaces for today and tomorrow. These community-based ventures are what make Philly the City of Brotherly Love.
