The Parkway Council and City of Philadelphia Release New Study about Uses for the Ben Franklin Parkway
PHILADELPHIA – Today, the City and the Parkway Council released a jointly commissioned study on the use of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, “Developing a Strategy for Appropriate Uses of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.”
This study is intended to provide context for decision-making on special event uses of the Parkway and weighs several factors drawn from the input of residents, visitors and City and private stakeholders. Additional considerations were drawn from and informed by examining special events’ practices in nine cities across the country, as well as the permitting and licensing practices of the National Park Service.
“The goal of this study was to develop a recommended framework within which the City can advance long-term planning for maximizing the value of major events for the City, while minimizing adverse impacts on adjacent areas, institutions, businesses and residents,” said David G. Wilson, the City’s Deputy Managing Director for Community and Culture.
The Parkway is one of Philadelphia’s most iconic spaces, and it has become a coveted location for events of all sizes. In the last several years, in addition to annual races, fireworks, walks and parades, the Parkway hosted multiple large-scale events, including the Made in America Festival since 2014, the 2015 World Meeting of Families and Papal Visit, and the 2017 NFL Draft. These types of events shine a welcome spotlight on the Parkway Museums District, and they also have significant implications for City services, residents, cultural institutions, businesses, and park assets in the vicinity.
In a city with many other beautiful outdoor venues, both the Parkway Council and City officials felt there was a need to carefully study potential alternatives to the Parkway. A committee of City officials, and representatives from neighborhood civic associations and Parkway cultural institutions formed the Parkway Events Study Committee which oversaw the authoring of this report.
“Given the extensive use of the Parkway, the time is ripe for a careful look at the positive and negative impacts of the various types of Parkway events,” said Judi Rogers, Executive Director of the non-profit Parkway Council.
The Cultural Planning Group (CPG), a collaborative consultant group, was selected by the committee to conduct the Parkway events study. The consultant team included:
- Martin Cohen, Partner, The Cultural Planning Group
- Ira Rosen, Assistant Professor, Temple University
- Surale Philips, President, Decision Support Partners
The consulting team has extensive experience in the fields of arts and cultural planning, community engagement, research design, and event management.
Conducted from June 2017 through March 2018, the study was informed by both primary and secondary research. Primary research focused on engagement of community and institutional stakeholders, municipal and civic leadership and residents in and around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The consultant group led individuals and small group interviews, focus groups and a survey administered to Parkway residents, stakeholder group discussions, and an intercept survey conducted among visitors to the Parkway between September 3, 2017, and November 24, 2017. Secondary research focused on reviewing documents, literature and contemporary best practices in special event planning.
Key findings of the study include the following:
- The City has an opportunity to articulate and publicize a shared vision that will guide how the Parkway is managed and utilized in the future.
- Opportunities are available to address communications and elements of event management that will mitigate many of the concerns and frustrations expressed, while at the same time increasing resident support of Parkway programming.
- There are opportunities for careful consideration of methods of cost recovery, damage mitigation and restoration of lost revenues.
- Continue to take advantage of the long-standing relationship between the City and the Parkway Council to strengthen collaboration.
Included in this plan is a framework scorecard to help determine which events are suitable for the Parkway, and which might be better suited for other Philadelphia venues.
The study was made possible with generous financial support from The Knight Foundation and the City of Philadelphia.
About The Parkway Council
The Parkway Council is a non-profit (501c3) coalition of cultural and educational institutions, as well as residences, businesses and related non-profits in the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area of Philadelphia, known as the Parkway Museums District. The Parkway Council exists to enhance and promote this Philadelphia treasure as an exceptional cultural, residential, and recreational destination.
Members of the Parkway Council include the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Aimco (Park Towne Place), Association for Public Art, The Barnes Foundation, Brandywine Realty Trust, Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Center City District, College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary, Fairmount Water Works, Fox Rothschild LLP, The Franklin Institute, Free Library of Philadelphia, Friends Select School, The Logan Hotel, Moore College of Art & Design, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Mormon Temple, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Rodin Museum, Windsor Suites, and The Philadelphian. (parkwaymuseumsdistrict.org)
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway kicked off a 14-month centennial celebration (“Parkway 100”) in September 2017. This major milestone will be commemorated through October 2018, with special exhibitions, events, community conversations and promotions. Learn more at parkway100.org.