Philadelphia launches ‘Lotscapes’ pilot to turn 10 publicly owned vacant lots into green community spaces
Philadelphia officially announced the Lotscapes pilot on April 23. According to the city, the program is designed to turn publicly owned vacant parcels into community assets through joint planning and implementation by city agencies, City Council, the Philadelphia Land Bank, and nonprofit and neighborhood partners. The first year covers 10 sites across multiple council districts.
Alongside the announcement, the lot at 3230 W. Diamond Street in Strawberry Mansion was presented as an example of the approach. The city said the parcel had previously been an illegal dumping site, and that Future Track trainees and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society removed weeds and debris, rebuilt planter boxes, and installed pollinator species to expand the site’s garden footprint.
The initiative is framed not only as a beautification effort but also as a link between urban greening and workforce training. The city said Philadelphia has about 40,000 vacant lots in total, including roughly 8,000 that are publicly owned. It also said Future Track participants completed green stormwater infrastructure training and gained 40 hours of horticultural experience from PHS in land care and tree care.
Over the coming months, the city and community partners plan to shape each site through resident engagement. The city listed possible formats including greenscapes such as planters, rain gardens, and even small orchards; playscapes for family-friendly use; socialscapes with shade and seating; and artscapes that integrate public art. Philadelphia aims to implement the pilot sites within 2026 and expand the model from 2027 onward.