Green Philadelphia History

Historical Snapshot

• In 1690, William Penn required settlers to preserve one acre of trees for every five acres cleared.
• Benjamin Franklin was one of America's first environmentalists. He began environmental reform as early as 1739 and spent the 1760s leading a Philadelphia commission to help regulate waste collection in the city and water pollution levels.
• Fairmount Park - One of the United States' largest and oldest municipally operated park systems, Fairmount Park encompasses 9,200 acres, a full 10 percent of the land in Philadelphia (city and county). The hill where the Museum of Art sits used to be known as "Faire Mount." The city began to buy and landscape areas on either side of the river to protect the water quality from industrial pollution. The largest part of the park system is 4,180 acres and was the site of the Centennial Exposition of 1876.
• University of Pennsylvania's Biopond - Created in 1897 as a botanical garden, it is more like a forest. Scores of towering trees and lush undergrowth surround a pond that is alive with gold fish, turtles, frogs, mallards, even crayfish. You will find the Biopond off Hamilton Walk near 38th Street.

Philadelphia's Green History

More than 300 years ago, William Penn designed Philadelphia to be a "Greene Country Towne," where squares, parks, and open spaces would allow residents to escape the frantic pace and unhealthy conditions found in 17th-century European cities. Penn’s Philadelphia developed around five public squares, which acted as havens from the busy world. Today those five squares still exist as urban landmarks, places of retreat, and even inspiration for residents and visitors alike.

Given Philadelphia’s history as a city that values its natural environment, it should be no surprise that the city is now a leader in the burgeoning environmental sustainability movement. From the smallest neighborhood recycling initiatives to large-scale energy conservation projects, this "Green Country Towne" is rapidly growing even greener.

Philadelphia is not just the birthplace of our nation, but of many green initiatives. One of the largest car sharing programs in the world is right here, as is the tallest green building in the country - the Comcast Center, which is LEED certified by the US Green Building Council. A strong local food movement thrives in Philadelphia, including community supported agriculture and farmer's markets throughout the region.  Philadelphia even has the "greenest" professional sports team in America, the Philadelphia Eagles, that recycle cups at the stadium, use biodiesel in their vehicles, and print materials with recycled paper. Additionally, in May of 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies became the first Major League Baseball team to join the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Power Partnership program.

From the top down, the City of Philadelphia is committed to sustainability. Mayor Michael Nutter, regarded as a leader in sustainability issues, has pledged to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America. Just six months into office, Nutter created a new senior cabinet-level appointment: Director of Sustainability. A Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) was appointed in September 2008 to assist the Mayor's Office of Sustainability as it defines strategies and goals for developing a coordinated sustainability policy for the City of Philadelphia. The SAB consists of talented individuals from across sectors and jurisdictions.  Some of the issues that they are tackling: zoning codes, coordination of sustainable efforts across City agencies and departments, expanding green building initiatives, and the creation of "green-collar" jobs.

Philadelphia has been ranked the 8th-most sustainable city in the United States by SustainLane, a community Web site about sustainable living and products, dubbed “The People-Powered Sustainability Guide.” Philadelphia ranks strong in many categories, including City Commuting, Local Food & Agriculture and Metro Transit Ridership.