The future skyline and streets of Philadelphia are on the drawing board, and the call has been sounded for residents to pitch in their visions and voices. According to the city's official announcement, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission is refreshing the Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for urban development affecting how public spaces and infrastructure are maintained and how key city decisions are made.
Building on the current framework, officials are seeking to take stock of successful strategies and those in need of overhaul; the initiative, dubbed Philadelphia2050, is aimed at scrutinizing existing conditions, updating data, and devising a solid plan, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission is set to employ a robust community engagement strategy to draw up the new set of recommendations for City agencies and advisory boards they're going to use data and feedback they get for all of this.
This Comprehensive Plan, Philadelphia2050: Planning Together, is multifaceted, aspiring to foster a city reflective of its residents' needs, and the Commission is inviting participation from neighborhood groups and community organizations. These Community Partners will not only be voices for their neighborhoods but will also be compensated for their contributions to the engagement process, as detailed by the City of Philadelphia.
The selected Community Partners will be enrolled in the Citizens Planning Institute where they will enhance their skills in comprehensive planning and data analysis, and these partners equipped with fresh knowledge and the backing of City staff will host engagement activities and have a hand in sculpting the final Comprehensive Plan they'll also be expected to disseminate what they've learned in their local communities.
Philadelphians are encouraged to visit the official Philadelphia2050 page to apply to become a Community Partner or to refer a group. A virtual information session for Philadelphia2050 is scheduled for tomorrow, with the application deadline set for May 30. Those interested in ongoing updates and future urban planning initiatives can join the project's mailing list.
