In 2022, eleven graduate planning students collaborated on two studio projects. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were still felt this semester, limiting the engagement that students were able to conduct, and their access to materials. Both project teams produced outstanding plans for their clients, despite these challenges.
At the suggestion of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, one team partnered with the All In The Family (AITF) CDC, a community-based organization based in the Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood near campus. As a small organization looking to build community resilience in the face of gentrification, AITF sought a neighborhood plan that outlines the ways to protect their community’s legacy including freedom from displacement. The students engaged in creative (and COVID-limited) engagement with stakeholders, and utilized Temple’s Urban Archives at Charles Library to develop a plan to guide development in this historic neighborhood.
Full Report [PDF]
Executive Summary [PDF]
Presentation to AITF [PDF]
Our second team partnered with the National Parks Service to create a concept plan for an underutilized section of Valley Forge National Historic Park. The work is timely, due to the recent closure and likely sale of the historic Saint Gabriel’s Hall, which is adjacent to the park’s current boundaries, but within its Congressional mandate. Though site visits, research on the site’s historical land uses, the plan articulates a sustainable vision for the park. Students consulted with multiple Tyler faculty, who helped guide their work in ecosystem management and best practices in trail and park design.
Full report [PDF]
Executive Summary [PDF]
Presentation to VAFO [PDF]