On October 3, 2025, Philadelphia’s Green Transformation: From Research to Action—hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) and the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR)—brought together non-profit leaders and researchers to discuss their collaboration with community organizers to improve and maintain Philadelphia’s diverse public and underutilized spaces.
The panelists included Charles Branas, Chair and Gelman Professor of Epidemiology, Columbia University; Shane Jensen, Professor of Statistics and Data Science, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; Matt Rader, President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Tony Sorrentino, Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Fairmount Park Conservancy; and James Wright, Project Manager for Strategy and Operations, Center for Health Justice, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Susan Wachter, Co-Director of Penn IUR and Wharton Professor of Real Estate and Professor of Finance, opened the event by celebrating the long-standing collaboration between Penn researchers and PHS in creating and supporting impactful programs that create cleaner and greener neighborhoods and how it has demonstrated the impact of research and practice coming together. The central theme of the discussion was how greening initiatives—specifically PHS’s efforts in tree planting and converting vacant lots—help to create vibrant, safe, and healthy communities through economic opportunity, high-quality environments, and strong social connections. PHS President Matt Rader emphasized this holistic approach, asserting that the organization’s place-based strategy relies on organizing neighborhood leadership to foster a sense of empowerment and social cohesion, which ultimately contributes to neighborhood stabilization.
The panelists highlighted the vital role of evidence-based research in supporting these initiatives. Dr. Charles Branas of Columbia University framed universities as "engines of discovery" and scientists as "honest brokers," emphasizing the need to translate research to inform community action. Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Shane Jensen of Wharton presented compelling evidence derived from his urban analytics research. Jensen discussed how the research identifies the economic benefits of greening, including an increase in surrounding property values after vacant lots were transformed. Furthermore, preliminary data indicate that greened lots positively impact public activity and social cohesion, with ongoing work exploring greening’s role in urban heat mitigation.
For these projects to be effective and lasting, community engagement is paramount. James Wright from the Penn Center for Health Justice underscored this point, stressing that residents must be valued as partners in the research and development process. He detailed the work of the Deeply Rooted Collaborative—uniquely funded by both Penn and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia—which enables residents to guide greening efforts, such as the Ignite project that couples financial well-being interventions with green infrastructure improvements.
Concluding the panel perspectives, Tony Sorrentino, incoming CEO of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, advocated for universities to take a leadership role in community development by recognizing that institutions must "blur the lines" between campus and the surrounding neighborhoods, creating accessible, beneficial green spaces for all residents.
The Q&A session addressed the critical issues of long-term sustainability and equity. Panelists were unified on the necessity of securing project sustainability through planning for long-term stewardship and encouraging immediate, broad neighborhood involvement to establish community ownership. While foundations and grants play a part, the public sector was identified as the most crucial and necessary source for sustained, long-duration funding, particularly when projects integrate a health-oriented approach.
Finally, in confronting the challenge of gentrification, panelists stressed that mitigation requires comprehensive neighborhood planning focused on increasing resident capacity and ownership. Institutions, Sorrentino concluded, must view themselves as a "neighbor" in the community, planning at the neighborhood scale to foster common spaces and utilize tools like community benefits agreements. By integrating rigorous research with dedicated community ownership, these partnerships in Philadelphia are forging a durable blueprint for sustainable, equitable urban development.
Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Providing expert commentary on urban topics and highlighting Penn IUR's research in the context of pressing urban issues.
