Reimagine Benjamin Franklin Parkway Summer Newsletter

Dear Community Members,

The focus of Part 2 of the planning process was to develop a number of plan strategies. During Part 3, Develop an Initial Plan, input received from you through online and paper surveys and your time shared with the project team during pop-up events, event tabling, public presentations, and guided discussions throughout parts 1 and 2 of the planning process informed the development of design, transportation, amenities, and programming ideas.

We received many requests for a closer look at the results of stakeholder input during Part 1, Launch and Discovery, especially Public Survey I. This edition of the newsletter reviews the methods used to reach the public and stakeholders, the significance of each method, and provides access to the second public survey and project StoryMap where you can learn how community input informed the creation of four strategies and current thinking for visualizing the future of the Parkway.

Do you have any questions, comments, or feedback? To contact the project team, please email us at reimagine.the.parkway@gmail.com or call us at 215-839-6369. Project updates can also be found on the project website: https://www.phlparkway.com/.

Your feedback has informed design, transportation, amenities, and programming ideas!

THE PLANNING PROCESS

Planning Process Part 1 Launch & Discovery: Engagement Timeline

POP-UP LAUNCH EVENT AT THE OVAL

DESIGN CHARRETTE

WELCOME AMERICA FESTIVAL

OPERATOR SURVEY OPENED

PUBLIC SURVEY OPENED

UKRAINIAN FLAG RAISING

NICETOWN BACK TO SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY

MIDSUMMER MOVIE NIGHT

PUBLIC SURVEY CLOSED

MADE IN AMERICA FESTIVAL

AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LAUNCH

OPERATOR SURVEY CLOSED

THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

WHO DID WE TALK TO?

The Public

A variety of tools were developed to achieve the goal of creating equitable outreach that included different types and levels of engagement to reach as many people as possible. Each method was targeted towards specific stakeholders or communities who might have different visions for a successful and enjoyable Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It is the goal of the project team to reflect these visions in the development of plan strategies and visualizations of current thinking. The following outreach methods were utilized during Part 1, Launch and Discovery:

Pop-up Launch:

Designed to create transparency in the planning process, gather input to refine the project vision while informing the public of future ways to engage. Pop-up launch materials featured information about:

• Parkway opportunities and constraints

Event Tabling:

• Programming and amenity preferences

• User group identification

• User commute route mapping

Used as a means to meet people where they are to distribute clear, compelling and educational project materials during small- to large-scale events. The project team tabled the following events:

• Logan Square Neighborhood Association

Community Meeting

• Made in America

• Midsummer Movie Night at Parkway Central Library

• Nicetown Back to School Block Party

• Ukrainian Flag Raising

Public Online/Paper Surveys (Benjamin Franklin Parkway Survey I):

• Welcome America

• Thanksgiving Day Parade

Served as an interactive opportunity for residents and users to identify their current and desired Parkway uses and amenities, and barriers to use. The survey focused on the themes of:

• Connections and transportation

• Place-making and experience

• Economic Development and revenue generation

• Inclusivity and spatial equity

Figure 1: Part 1 engagement tools

WHO DID WE TALK TO?

Planning Process Part 1 Launch & Discovery: Engagement

Adjacent Institutions

Adjacent institutions hold special interest in the future of the Parkway as their continued success depends on the public having numerous ways to access Center City and the Parkway. Their input provided user-specific insight into the challenges faced by their local visitors, tourists, and staff.

Guided Discussions & Operator Surveys:

These methods engaged various stakeholders to reveal existing obstacles and potential synergies for future partnerships during future phased development. The project team distributed operator surveys and held discussions with the following groups:

• Academy of Natural Sciences

• Association for Public Art

• Barnes Foundation

• Fairmount Sports Association

• Friends of the Rail Park

• Friends Select School

• Logan Square Neighborhood Association Design and Planning Committee

• Moore College of Art & Design

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

• Philadelphia Museum of Art

• Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation

• The Philadelphian

Figure 2: Design charrette

Registered Community Organizations (RCOs)

“Boots on the ground” staff and volunteers helped lead and guide discussions within neighborhoods. For example, registered community organizations provided a means to distribute project information far and wide, thus expanding the meaningful dialogue with stakeholders and broadening public interest and support for the project.

Email Blasts:

Numerous RCO’s received project updates through email blasts for the purposes of distributing Public Survey I and information sharing about the Community Ambassador Program. This method was geared toward members of the public who had not yet been engaged.

Local and International Experts

Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Philadelphia are unique in that a rich mixture of art, cultural, academic, and recreational institutions are sited in Center City creating an opportunity for knowledge-sharing between experts. This mixture attracted the best and brightest from around the world to study and learn from the successes of the Parkway during a design charrette last year.

Design Charrette

For two days, the project team partnered with local and visiting experts in a series of workshops to discuss the current and future state of the Parkway, review initial thoughts on a range of potential strategies, identify gaps in programming and infrastructure and pinpoint next steps. Each workshop was organized by the following areas of expertise to inform development of the urban design approach:

Programming, Economics & Activation

Infrastructure & Transportation Parks & Open Space Urban Design & Landscape Architecture

PUBLIC SURVEY I

Planning Process Part 1 Launch & Discovery: Engagement

Distribution

Benjamin Franklin Parkway Survey I was conducted between July 17, 2022 and September 1, 2022. The survey was available both online and on paper by request. In addition to English, the survey was offered in 10 other languages. The project team notified the public of the opportunity to share needs and preferences through the survey using a variety of communication methods including: pocket cards with QR codes, street stencils, posters, signs, City of Philadelphia official communication by the Mayor’s Office for Public Engagement, and by attending and distributing materials during public events. The intent of the public survey was to refine the vision and goals for the project, gather input on the priorities for future uses of the Parkway, and to create public support.

Purpose

The purpose of the first public survey was to understand what the community would like to see on the Parkway in the future, how the Parkway could be more welcoming and engaging, what safety improvements should be prioritized, identify any concerns the community had about the project, and get the community engaged and excited. This information has since been used to inform parts 2 and 3 of the planning process in which strategies and visualizations of current thinking were developed.

Themes

Questions in Benjamin Franklin Parkway Survey I focused on themes of:

» Parkway usage: visiting or passing through

» Connections and transportation: preferred way to get to the Parkway

» Resilience: impacts of Parkway events, and pedestrian, bike and transit improvements

» Place-making and experience: desired activities and amenities

» Inclusivity and spatial equity: function and balance

» Parkway access: navigating between institutions, neighborhoods and open spaces

» Economic development and revenue generation: time of day/year, and frequency of use

Based on survey responses, five categories of user groups were identified. User groups are groups of people with similar needs or interests (respondents selected all categories which applied to them):

1. Those that visit Parkway more than once a year (for example to attend an event on the Parkway, use the Parkway for recreation, to go for a walk).

2. Those that work on the Parkway or immediately adjacent to the Parkway (within a 10 minute walk).

3. Those that live on the Parkway or immediately adjacent to the Parkway (within a 10 minute walk).

4. Those that pass through the Parkway (including driving, walking, biking, etc.) on the way to another place (for example, commuting to work in Center City).

5. Those that do not visit or use the Parkway or only visit or use the Parkway occasionally (once a year or less).

PUBLIC SURVEY I

Planning Process Part 1 Launch & Discovery: What Have We Heard

Transportation

How do people get to the Parkway?

• At 79%, most participants prefer to access the Parkway by way of public transportation including bus, subway or train. Walking/rolling (such as by wheelchair) and personal vehicle were the second and third most preferred ways of accessing the Parkway.

• Once on the Parkway, most people access adjacent institutions, neighborhoods, open spaces, and Center City amenities by walking/rolling (82%).

• The most desired pedestrian improvements are safer crosswalks, lower traffic speeds, and longer signal times to cross the street.

• The most desired bike improvements are protected bike lanes and protected bike crossings.

• The most desired transit improvements are more frequent transit service and more or closer transit stops near the Parkway.

Amenities & Programming

Why do people go to the Parkway?

Among all user groups, most people go to the Parkway to (in order of preference):

1. Visit institutions

2. Run, walk, or for general exercise

3. Pass through to other destinations

Among all user groups, most households would like to participate in these types of events on the Parkway in the future (in order of preference):

1. Pop-up events such as craft shows, farmer’s markets, and trade shows

2. Art and cultural events or gatherings

3. Outdoor programs hosted by adjacent institutions

4. Special visual and performing arts events like a concert series or movie night

5. Non-programmed activities (people watching, reading, sunbathing, playing with family members)

User Group: Those who live on the Parkway

• This user group is most significantly impacted by traffic volumes and road closures during events followed by noise levels and litter.

• This user group’s most desired future amenities and design features include parking, connections to walking and biking paths, more food and beverage options, more trees and shaded areas, and small parks and green space.

User Group: Those who do not visit or rarely visit the Parkway

• This user group does not visit or rarely visits the Parkway because of the lack of restrooms, events and activities of interest, and parking.

• This user group’s most desired future amenities and design features include free public transit (including options such as bike share, scooter share or a shuttle), parking, food and beverage options, connections to regional walking and biking paths/trails; and art, cultural, and educational displays.

PUBLIC SURVEY I

Planning Process Part 1 Launch & Discovery: What Have We Heard

User Group: Those who work on the Parkway

• This user group’s most desired future amenities and design features include parking, connections to walking and biking trails, food and beverage options, free public transit (including options such as bike share, scooter share or a shuttle), and more trees and shaded areas.

Who did we hear from?

• Nearly an equal number of age ranges responded.

• 82% of respondents were white.

• 46% of respondents identified as living within a 10-minute walk of the Parkway.

• 76% of respondents regularly pass through the Parkway.

• 69% of respondents visit the Parkway more than once per year.

Common Themes: General Use

• Morning and afternoon are the preferred time of use for the Parkway.

• Nearby residents prefer to visit the Parkway all times of the day.

• People visit the Parkway regardless of the season.

• Visitation patterns of general users and those living adjacent to the Parkway were not heavily impacted by the pandemic.

• The largest identified impacts caused by events were traffic congestion, noise levels, increased litter, and challenges accessing residences.

• Visiting institutions, running, walking, exercising, or passing through to other destinations are the most popular uses of most visitors.

Common Themes: Transportation

• Most users currently walk or roll (such as by wheelchair) to the Parkway. Walking or rolling remains the preferred future method. The second and third most popular choices were driving and biking.

• Most people want safer pedestrian crossings, lower speeds, longer crossing times, protected bike lanes and crossings, and more bike racks.

• Most people would like more frequent and closer transit stops.

• Most people prefer to take public transit or walk to the Parkway, but there is still a strong desire for parking spaces among residents, workers, non-white respondents, and those age 65 and older.

• Eakins Oval and the area in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art were named most often as the most dangerous or needing the most improvement.

Common Themes: Amenities and Activities

• Most users that do not visit the Parkway or visit rarely are between the ages of 35-44.

• Lack of restrooms, activities of interest, parking, and food and beverage options are the most common reasons to not visit or only occasionally visit the Parkway.

• Recreation/exercise, institutions, passing through, and public art are main drivers for visitation.

PUBLIC SURVEY I

Planning Process Part 1 Launch & Discovery: What Have We Heard

Common Themes: Amenities and Activities (continued)

• An overwhelming presence of cars on the Parkway was identified as the reason why people do not visit the Parkway.

• Pop up events, art and cultural events/gatherings and institutional programs are the preferred activities of all users.

• Those that live near the Parkway prefer and desire more parking, connections to trails, food and beverage options, shaded areas and trees, and more small parks and green spaces.

Figure 3: Pedestrian crossings on the Parkway

10

1,000+

Public Survey 1 pocket cards distributed

5,584

53

Languages other than English offered Digital survey submissions received Paper Survey submissions received

Figure 4: Public survey I summary

Takeaways from the pop-up launch and charrettes (1. Infrastructure; 2. Programming, Economics and Activation; 3. Parks and Open Space; 4. Urban Design and Landscape Architecture) included desires for:

• More lighting and programming for nighttime activities

• Protected pedestrian-only areas

• Improved wayfinding and signage

• Improved traffic calming measures

• Strengthened connections to the Schuylkill River

• More connective facilities such as kiosks

• More food and beverage options

• More programmed spaces for activations

• Measures to reduce urban heat island

The expansive offering of citywide and community-based public events proved essential to reaching the diverse communities of Philadelphia. The design team attended and distributed project updates at Welcome America, Made in America, the Ukrainian Flag Raising, Nicetown Back to School Block Party, Midsummer Movie Night at Parkway Central Library, and Thanksgiving Day Parade. These events proved as a necessary means in maintaining project momentum and visibility, served as recruitment tools for the Community Ambassador Program (25 ambassadors signed up), and aided in broadening the demographics of respondents to the first public survey, particularly a younger audience.

Parkway operator discussions and surveys helped the design team identify the priorities of institutional tenants on and near the Parkway who operate facilities and concurrent programming. Reoccurring themes included:

• Parkway identity and the use of events to boost institutional publicity

• Traffic, transit, and navigation

• Infrastructure and amenities

• Safety and event impacts

• Need for better-connected, accessible transit

• Need for improved pedestrian signage and wayfinding

• Need for readily available street closure information

• Need for an increased presence of emergency personnel

INCORPORATING FEEDBACK

Design, Transportation, Amenities, and Programming Ideas

Next Steps

Over the last 9 months, during parts 2 and 3 of the planning process, the team has taken the community feedback from the various engagement activities and worked with technical experts and stakeholders, such as engineers, community advocates, public art experts, and others, to establish ideas that are data-driven, achievable and functional for the purposes of additional public feedback to incorporate into the plan. Feedback to date revealed the reimagined Parkway should:

1. Have spaces and opportunities for active and passive recreation.

2. Expand art, cultural, and horticultural experiences.

3. Lend itself to diverse events and provide flexible spaces for small- to large-scale programming.

What are the Current Ideas?

To achieve the vision of a high-quality, accessible, and high-amenity public space, the design team is exploring four strategies that could be implemented over the next two decades. These strategies include shorter-term (5-15 years) and longer-term (15 years and beyond) moves:

1. Connect the Oval - make a seamless pedestrian connection to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (short-term, 2024-2028)

2. Green the Spine - transition the outer lanes of the Parkway to park space (short-term)

3. Circle to Square - restore Logan Square as a grand public square, moving traffic to the edges (long-term)

4. Take Me to the River - connect, improve, and activate the river and River Fields (long-term)

To see visualizations of these moves in detail and learn more about current thinking, take Benjamin Franklin Parkway Survey II today or visit the project StoryMap.

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