Green-city effort seeking students' opinion

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."

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Green Living Panel & Community Discussion to be held at Dock Street Brewery in West Philadelphia, PA on Sunday, October 26th (Philadelphia, PA) Ð October 16, 2008 Ð We Are Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (We Are BOOST) cordially invites everyone to a special community event �?Why Live Green: Seven Leaders, Seven Ways You Can Live Healthier and Happier�? on Sunday, October 26th from 3PM - 6PM at Dock Street Brewery located at 701 S. 50th Street (50th & Baltimore Avenue) in West Philadelphia, PA. Event will include panel discussion featuring topics by seven sustainable and green living community leaders and special guest appearance by Christopher Zelov of the Knossus Project and director of the eco-education film, City21, which explores the multiple initiatives that are indeed shaping the 21st Century City. There will be a Q&A; session, Brewery tour, giveaways, and networking buffet (included) following the panel presentation. A cash bar will also be available. Panelists and topics include: ¥ Anastasia Harrison, LEED-AP, AIA, IAQA Director of Business Development - WESKetch Architecture + Interiors, Inc. TOPIC: �?Why Live Green? Real Reasons, Rationales, and Practical Steps You CAN Take�? ¥ Stephen F. Finkelman, P.E., LEED-AP Associate - CMX Engineering TOPIC: �?LEED for Homes and Energy Conservation Strategies�? ¥ Doug Cohen Founder - Inspired Futures Global Campaign TOPIC: �?Leaders of the Next Generation: Youth and Sustainability�? ¥ Marianne Malloy Eastern Regional Network Program Coordinator - Environmental Leadership Program TOPIC: �?ELP: 21st Century Community-Building and Social Capital Creation�? ¥ Anne Misak Program Organizer - Clean Water Action Ð Philadelphia Regional Chapter TOPIC: �?Protecting Our Watersheds and Improving Recycling in Philadelphia�? ¥ Sean Crane, AA, AS, RESNET, BPI, Green Advantage Commercial Chief Technical Officer - Home Town Green TOPIC: �?Walk Softly and Save Wisely�? ¥ Peter Abrams Proprietor - Modern Metal Work & Trenton Atelier TOPIC: �?Waste-Stream Treasures: What You Throw Away Does Not Go Away!�? Additional panel speakers will be selected and announced. Note: if you or someone you know is interested in speaking at this event, contact BOOST at (206) 202-2883 or email whylivegreen@weareboost.org. Donation: $35 per person $30 group rate (5+) $15 children under 12 For more information or to RSVP, visit http://www.weareboost.org or call (206) 202-2883. You may also email whylivegreen@weareboost.org to register for this event. Tickets will be available at the door if this event does not sell out. Since 2007, Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (BOOST) has planned, promoted, and coordinated over 50 forums, initially in the Trenton-Mercer County region. As a result of the demand for green design and green building education in the Philadelphia region, BOOST is happy to offer a series of informational presentations on environmentally responsible design and sustainability in the city of Philadelphia. They have developed a speakers' bureau that includes academics, architects, business owners and entrepreneurs as well as professionals and practitioners. Within this bureau, speakers have expertise in areas ranging from green building and sustainable community design to personal and organizational leadership capacity building. For more information, visit our website: http://www.weareboost.org

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