Mayor Cherelle Parker has announced a partnership between the city and various other partners on a new $11.5 million project to beautify key access points into Philadelphia, writes Tom MacDonald for WHYY.
The new beautification project is both in preparation to welcome the world to Philadelphia to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and part of the mayor’s plans to fulfill one of her many campaign promises to improve the city’s cleanliness.
Mayor Parker said with the project, she wants “people to feel the sense of hope, pride and dignity that we have about being one Philly, a united city, so that they can be inspired to think about our country as one America, a united nation.”
The project will be multifaceted, and include gardening and landscape work, graffiti abatement, and a series of new murals.
Carlton Williams, director of the Philadelphia Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, indicated that the new beautification project will aid Philadelphia in making a good first impression to visitors and gives the city “an opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.”
Parker firmly believes that it will bring people together, increase civic pride, and stimulate tourism while also supporting economic development and the city’s workforce.
Read more about the new multi-million effort to give Philadelphia visitors a good first impression at WHYY.
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