There are a lot of exciting environmental projects going on right now including an important even on THURS that I want to let folks know about.

Recycle NOW coalition is working to get Recycle Bank, which is single-stream curb-side recycling, throughout the city to improve our dismal 6% recycling rate.

Next Great City is a project you will be hearing more about soon which will push for a series of recommendations to improve the city aimed at the Mayoral race.

A number of folks including myself recently started Greenadelphia!, a Philly-based environmental blog to help build community around these and other projects.

FINALLY, there is GreenPlan Philadelphia, which is a city initiative that will bring multiple city agencies together for the first time to work in concert on open space design for the city. GreenPlan is holding its first public event this THURDAY (see below). While I'm excited about GreenPlan I am also skeptical so am looking forward to learning more about it:

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For the first time, the City of Philadelphia
is preparing a master plan for open space.

Thursday, October 5th
6:30 to 8:00PM
at Seiss Community Center
2111 Sansom Street

Dubbed GreenPlan Philadelphia, this comprehensive planning effort will be the City's blueprint for sustainable open space, guiding development for the next 15 – 20 years. Co-hosted with the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, this Thursday's forum will broaden the audience's understanding of our city's open space challenges and introduce us to GreenPlan Philadelphia's significant agenda.

Speakers:
• Glen Abrams, Office of Watersheds, Philadelphia Water Department
• Darlene Messina, Philadelphia Health Department
• Andrew Davenport, Office of Housing and Community Development
• Domenic Vitiello, Urban Studies Program, University of Pennsylvania

Contact Marlon Satchell at YIPCivicEd@gmail.com for more information.