The Feet First Philly’s Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant program, initiated in 2020, is designed to support communities that have historically experienced underinvestment or active disinvestment in their built environment and city services. This program directly aligns with the mission of Feet First Philly by promoting walkability and improving public spaces, thereby making neighborhoods safer and easier for residents to walk and roll in. Since its inception, the program has grown significantly, funding 7 projects in its first year and expanding to support 53 projects across Philadelphia by its fifth year.
The primary beneficiaries of this mini-grant program are organizations, businesses, and individuals who are actively working to enhance public spaces within communities. The program specifically targets areas in Philadelphia where improvements to walkability are most needed. The overarching impact goal is to foster safer and more accessible public spaces, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents and encouraging active transportation. This is achieved by empowering local advocates who best understand their community's needs to identify and implement public space improvements.
The program's priorities and focuses revolve around projects that directly improve walkability. This includes initiatives that address financial and technical barriers faced by organizations in creating or improving safe public spaces. Eligibility criteria emphasize that enhancements must be located on public property or be open for public use, and cannot be used for financial gain. Furthermore, proposals that involve public space permits are required to hold insurance, with grant funds available to cover additional insurance costs if needed.
Expected outcomes include an increase in safe and accessible public spaces, leading to improved walkability throughout Philadelphia. Measurable results can be seen in the number of projects funded (53 projects to date), the diversity of projects supported, and the engagement of various community stakeholders. Feet First Philly's strategic priorities are centered on community-led improvements and the belief that local residents are the most effective advocates for enhancing their own neighborhoods. The theory of change suggests that by providing mini-grants between $500 and $2000, the program can mitigate financial and technical obstacles, enabling communities to successfully implement public space enhancements that align with the organization's mission of improving walkability and creating a more connected, pedestrian-friendly city.
