Philadelphia is undertaking a citywide initiative to get greener - and officials are looking for college students' input.
Fourteen city agencies have come together to form Green Plan Philadelphia, which aims to ensure that residents have access to open space in their neighborhoods.
The first phase of the 15 year plan, which entailed an environmental assessment of each area of the city, has been completed, and now the focus is on the second phase, which is intended to gauge public opinion.
This is the part where student voices would be especially valued, according to Robert Allen, Green Plan's project manager.
"I would love to get student input," Allen said. "They come from different areas and backgrounds and have seen what works and what doesn't from their communities. They would have some very good ideas for us in Philadelphia for how we can manage spaces."
He encourages that students go online and fill out surveys through greenplanphiladelphia.com and that they attend community meetings, the first of which will be held this Thursday at Daroff Elementary School in West Philadelphia.
According to Allen, Green Plan hopes to expand trails and public recreational areas, which would connect to a larger state plan. In addition, the plan aims to improve the economic vitality of the city and cites a study by Wharton professor Susan Wachter. It found that homes located near trees, side yards and community gardens have almost 30-percent higher property values in New Kensington, located in Northeast Philadelphia.
"It's not just recreation, though," Allen said. "We want sustainable management of green spaces in the city."
Bonnie Waring, a College junior and head of the Green Campus Partnership, agrees and believes that the issue is important for students.
"Most people look at urban green space as recreational - a place to read a book," Waring said, "but there's an environmental effect, and by getting involved with the initiative, we would show a concern for the local community."
Green Plan Philadelphia has a grant of $200,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and indirect funding from the William Penn Foundation, an area philanthropic organization.
Sarah Abroms, a junior in the College and executive vice chairwoman of the Undergraduate Assembly, said she is hoping for student involvement with Green Plan.
"It would be great for all of the students to work together across the city," Abroms said. "There has certainly been concern at Penn about preservation of green space on and around campus."
