Meet Fast Forward Presenters >> Kimberlee Douglas & Drew Harris

What is your Big Idea for Philadelphia?

Parks in a Truck

 

Block by block, let's bring nature back in everyday life and every neighborhood by linking unused lots to create networks of green spaces—corridors of high-quality and useful outdoor places that promote health and build communities. This open space initiative will build upon the ongoing development work of many great organizations by using underutilized and idle spaces to fill in the gaps. No one should be far from a safe and comfortable green space.

“Parks in a Truck” lets neighborhood groups design and select what they want in their park — chess tables, grilling areas, picnic tables, trees, flower beds, pathways for walking, tree houses, a covered pavilion, car washing, logs to climb on — it’s all good if it works for them.

All of the essentials are loaded on a truck and delivered to the site where community volunteers build their park — barn-raising style. High school students could be hired as ‘park ambassadors’ to help with the planning and spread the word of the benefits of the park. Local businesses, churches, and schools can ‘adopt’ the park and support the maintenance. ”

“Parks in a Truck” is simple, fast and cost-effective community effort that beautifies our neighborhoods, one lot at a time.

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Kim Douglas received a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, Kim was fortunate to have studied under, and was influenced by, the distinguished educator and early pioneer of ecological planning, Ian McHarg. Upon graduation she joined Olin Partnership, an international design firm, where she worked as the lead designer on several award winning projects including the LEED certified Winter Garden and Plaza at the Comcast Center in Philadelphia. Kim joined Philadelphia University in 2009 as full time faculty in the department of Landscape Architecture. Currently, Kim is an Associate Professor and Director of the program. She was recently awarded the Anton Germinshuzen, Stantec Term Chair in Landscape Architecture which will allow her to continue her research on the effects of contact with nature on children. She also continues to refine her program and its commitment to the education needed in confronting ecological as well as cultural and social issues that affect urban neighborhoods, particularly those in need of revitalization.

DrewAHarris(at)gmail.com
Twitter: @drewaharris
LinkedIn: DrewAHarris

Dr. Drew Harris, DPM, MPH, is an Assistant Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University College of Population Health (JCPH) and Director of the Scholarly Inquiry-Health Policy track at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College. A researcher, author and presenter in the fast-growing discipline of population health, he led JCPH’s effort to create the nation’s first Masters in Population Health for practicing health professionals and a new graduate program called Population Health Intelligence for clinical leaders challenged with turning health data into insight and action and was director of the Health Policy and Population Health programs.

Dr. Harris presents regularly on population health and health policy to regional and national audiences and is a featured speaker in the American College Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Cluster program. He is an active health advocate, publishing frequently in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wall Street Journal and other publications on topical health policy issues. His current passion is finding ways to help healthcare providers understand the important role social determinants of health and the built environment play in patient outcomes.