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Green Infrastructure Tours Showcase Philadelphia Innovation

Dec 29, 2016
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Visitors from China inspect Philadelphia green stormwater infrastructure sites during a Dec. 14 tour hosted by the Philadelphia Water Dept.
Visitors from China inspect Philadelphia green stormwater infrastructure sites during a Dec. 14 tour hosted by the Philadelphia Water Dept. 

Did you know Philadelphia has an international reputation as a city where green design and innovation are thriving?

Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Water Department led a group of business leaders and engineers from Beijing, China on a tour of green stormwater infrastructure sites across Philadelphia. The group of experts came to Philadelphia because our 25-year Green City, Clean Waters plan is recognized as one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking green infrastructure programs in the United States and internationally.

Their goal was to explore potential solutions that could help Beijing—a city of over 21 million people—address issues with stormwater runoff and sewer overflows. The sites visited included a rain garden at Panati Playground in Allegheny West, stormwater bumpouts on Queen Lane in East Falls, a series of stepped rain gardens at Germantown’s Cliveden Park, and various stormwater systems at the award-winning Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center.

The event was one of more than a dozen green stormwater infrastructure tours provided by PWD in 2016, and nearly 400 participants from organizations including the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Sierra Club came to Philadelphia to see what Green City, Clean Waters looks like.

Have a class, organization or company interested in learning more about Philadelphia’s growing network of green infrastructure tools? Visit our GSI Tours page and fill out a form.

Please note that for groups of less than 10, we will provide site information and maps for a self-guided tour.

We also have several virtual tours and apps that let you explore green infrastructure investments and tools:

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