Engaged residents who live, study and work in North Central Philadelphia frequently come together to enliven the neighborhood by organizing block parties, cleanups, educational events, vendor fairs and other volunteer activities.
Each of those efforts starts with an idea and a group eager enough to see it through.
In August 2018, Philly Free Streets drew an unprecedented number of Philadelphians to North Broad Street to experience a day of car-free fun. Community groups and area institutions used the day to showcase the best of North Broad.
For example, Mural Arts Philadelphia commemorated the Uptown Theater’s historic past with a new mural on its facade and the Leon H. Sullivan Human Services Center at North Broad and Master streets hosted a pop-up beach featuring 50 tons of sand.
Adding to the pedestrian-friendly fun, Beech Community Services organized live music and vendors for its 12th annual Jazz on the Ave event on Cecil B. Moore Avenue on the same day.
