"The real estate market consistently demonstrates that many people are willing to pay a larger amount for a property located close to parks and open space areas than for a home that does not offer this amenity."

-John L. Crompton, from The Impact of Parks and Open Space on Property Values and the Property Tax Base

Central Park in New York City is an often cited example of the power of urban park space to influence the value of real estate and overall quality of life, but even the smallest of neighborhood parks can have an impact. A healthy, well-maintained park is one hallmark of a highly desirable neighborhood.

Philadelphia is blessed with 150 neighborhood parks, from tiny Bardascino Park in South Philadelphia to the sprawling 44-acre Wissinoming Park in the Northeast. Each park is different. Each reflects the history, culture, and sense of place that makes the city such a rich mosaic of neighborhoods. And each park is a key indicator of the larger community's health and well-being. A beautiful, active park speaks to an area's vitality, while an abandoned space reflects a fractured, struggling neighborhood.

When neighbors come together to reclaim a park, they begin to reclaim their neighborhood. In 1993, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Green launched its "Parks Revitalization Project" to help community groups take charge of their parks. Begun as a modest initiative involving just three parks, the project now involves nearly 60 throughout Philadelphia. Through the collaborative efforts of Philadelphia Green, the city's Department of Recreation, the Fairmount Park Commission, and community groups, the project has had a dramatic impact, greatly improving the appearance of many parks and making them an integral part of urban life once again.

Decline and Opportunity

Today, many of the city's parks are in the midst of transformation, but this was not the case just a few years ago. For several decades, the city's declining population meant a shrinking tax base. City agencies, challenged by budget cuts, were under-funded and overwhelmed by the task of maintaining parks. At the same time, communities were frustrated by a lack of services as well as the daunting task of taking on these issues themselves. Over time many parks became dangerous eyesores and havens for drug and gang activity.

Not surprisingly, the poor condition of parks hampered other community efforts. During the 1990s, the Philadelphia-based William Penn Foundation invested substantial funds to renovate the Center in the Park, a senior citizens' center in Germantown's Vernon Park. Foundation officials soon learned, however, that the seniors feared walking through the park to get to the new facility.

Realizing that Vernon Park symbolized a more widespread problem, the Foundation approached PHS to see if it could apply its greening and community-building expertise to improve parks in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. While PHS's Philadelphia Green possessed the technical skills and resources, the staff knew that any improvements would be short-lived without an ongoing commitment from both the community and the city.

The Evolution of a Partnership

Beginning with Vernon Park, Norris Square in North Philadelphia, and Wharton Square in South Philadelphia, Philadelphia Green organized volunteers into independent "friends" groups that could serve as park stewards. At the same time, it offered training and technical support to Department of Recreation staff and volunteers. Soon, Philadelphia Green staff, city workers, and volunteer groups were working together. A three-way partnership was born.

Initial successes led to the project's expansion throughout the 1990s. Philadelphia Green helped park groups to organize, plan projects, and recruit volunteers. It also channeled funding to the groups for small enhancement projects. Responding to a groundswell of community support, the Department of Recreation stepped up mowing, trash collection, and infrastructure repair. The cycle of decline in city parks soon slowed and eventually stopped, and the system of neighborhood parks began a steady climb back toward vitality.

"Government found ways to redirect existing resources, and the community found ways to contribute to park maintenance. We found ways to support both in the process, acting as a catalyst for change," notes Joan Reilly, director of partnership development for Philadelphia Green. All of the participants found ways through the partnership to leverage new resources. "We began to perceive this project as a real opportunity to build community, imagine new possibilities, and transform the ways we work together."

Volunteers claim that the three-way alliance brings easier access to resources and contacts. "Now, when you need something done, you know who's the right person to call in the Department of Recreation," says Bill Trost, president of the Friends of Konrad Square Park in Fishtown. He also appreciates Philadelphia Green's technical support-in this case, a new design for the center of their park. "A small group like ours could really run out of gas if we had to do everything," he says. "But with the plan drawn up, we could concentrate on rounding up the volunteers and getting the job done."

"Little by little, the partnership has been a catalyst for tremendous change," says Tom Fox, deputy commissioner for the Department of Recreation. He says the strong commitment on the part of everyone involved helped leverage more funds from the city, enabling the Department to slowly rebuild its staff and budget from a low point in the early 1990s. "Our relationship with the community has improved enormously, because we can now deliver more. And their work makes our job easier, so there is appreciation on both sides."

The Future of Neighborhood Parks

The importance of parks to the vitality of urban neighborhoods cannot be overstated. Well-maintained, active parks are found in strong communities with a lot to offer-from a stable real estate market to safe streets to an environment where residents are deeply invested in their quality of life.

Parks need vision, leadership, planning, investment of resources, maintenance, and stewardship. For parks to thrive, people must come together from a wide range of places-community, government, business, foundations, and non-profits. Philadelphia Green's Parks Revitalization Project is realizing this vision. It's about turning crisis into opportunity-for the park, the larger community, and ultimately the entire city.

The partnerships that are transforming Philadelphia's parks have never been stronger. In the past decade, government has infused the parks with a new wave of capital dollars. Private investors have stepped forward. Once seen as places that were not only abandoned but actively avoided, neighborhood parks today draw thousands of city residents for concerts, celebrations, and recreation. There is a renewed sense of pride, purpose, and place.

This innovative three-way partnership among government, community, and Philadelphia Green has become a model for other cities. It is a testament to the true value of partnership-how the partners have been able to accomplish much more together than if each was acting in isolation. Community groups are in a much better position today to weather any future economic storms. They are deeply invested in the progress of their parks and are ready, willing, and able to stand up and speak out for these cherished open spaces.

Keys to a Successful Partnership

• Do the work. Keeping a good partnership alive and thriving requires thoughtful planning, hard work, and a shared vision.
• Build partnerships "wide and deep" with key staff at every level of the partner organizations, so that any change of personnel does not disrupt the relationship.
• Mine the talents of everyone involved. People become much more committed when they see that their efforts and opinions are valued.
• Celebrate accomplishments, share experiences, and reflect on each year's work.

Philadelphia Green's Role

As facilitator, catalyst, and advisor, Philadelphia Green:

• Provides training to community groups on how to raise funds, care for park improvements, and build their organizations.
• Brings people from parks across the city together to network, share experiences, and advocate for quality public open space.
• Links government with community.
• Provides landscape design services.
• Provides resources and training opportunities to government to build their capacity as park stewards.
• Supports the development of a sustainable stewardship system.

The Impact of the Project (1993-2005)

• More then 60 parks have been involved in the Parks Revitalization Project, and 95% still participate.
• Community groups have raised $1.3 million; and put in more than 235,000 hours of volunteer labor-a value of $3.7 million.
• Since 1993, city and state government have invested nearly $10 million in Department of Recreation parks-a seven-fold increase over their investments from 1983-1993.
• Philadelphia Green has channeled over $1.5 million to the Project from its various funders.

"Carroll Park was neglected and abused for over 30 years. It was a frightening place to be and no one wanted to be there except the 'element'. Now, it's been transformed into a happy place. It's clean and safe and well cared for."

-Doris Gwaltney, Carroll Park

"One of the hardest tasks for civic groups is to sustain themselves over time. The support of the Parks Project can make all the difference in whether a local group flourishes."

-Laura Lanza,Campbell Square