Urban open spaces can take many forms: a small sitting garden the size of a row house lot woven into the fabric of a dense neighborhood, a half-acre community garden abundant with fresh vegetables, or a hundred acre preserve. These spaces provide numerous environmental, economic, social and health benefits within Pennsylvania’s densest population centers. While there is growing recognition of the importance of urban open space access and ecological restoration from an environmental and social justice standpoint, these properties present a unique set of management challenges. This session will present the stewardship and community engagement models of three organizations working throughout Philadelphia to conserve urban open spaces. Jenny Greenberg will present Neighborhood Gardens Trust’s (NGT) model of preserving community gardens and other shared open spaces, Julie Slavet will share Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership’s work collaborating with their communities to improve the watershed through education, stewardship, restoration, and advocacy, and Sang Phouansouvanh will highlight the Greening Coatesville Initiative effort of building local capacity to maintain a park system that matches the needs of residents.
