Park in a Truck: Empowering Youth to Improve Their Neighborhood, One Park at a Time

Session Type: Off-Site Visit

Abstract

Philadelphia has 40,000 under-utilized lots, which contribute to a number of challenges for neighborhoods, including decreased tax revenue and potential crime hazards. The Park in a Truck (PiaT) initiative helps communities design, build, and maintain community parks in formerly under-utilized lots. Critical to the PiaT process is the Park Ambassador program that trains neighborhood youth as paid interns to plan events and perform maintenance in their new neighborhood park. This session will take place at the Glenda Ann Christopher Memorial Park in the Kingsessing Neighborhood of Philadelphia. The session will be composed of presentations about the local neighborhood, the PiaT process, Park Ambassador training, and research to evaluate the impact of the PiaT process on the health of youth.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Environmental Education

Cosponsor

• Spotlight on Philadelphia and the Region

Chair

• Russell K McIntire, Lehigh University

Papers

• Overview of Park in a Truck: History, Goals, Process - Kimberlee Douglas, Thomas Jefferson University

• Kingsessing: A Neighborhood That Needs More Parks! - Greg Thompson; Carole Simmons

• Youth Park Ambassador Training, Responsibilities, and Impact on the Community - Valerie Gay, City of Philadelphia

• Impacts of Park in a Truck on Youth Mental Health and Community Perceptions - Russell K McIntire, Lehigh University

• Photovoice Research Among Kingsessing Youth - Katie A. Bucher, Muhlenberg College

• Roundtable Discussion with Park in a Truck Stakeholders - Kimberlee Douglas, Thomas Jefferson University; Greg Thompson; Carole Simmons; Valerie Gay, City of Philadelphia; Russell K McIntire, Lehigh University; Katie A. Bucher, Muhlenberg College