Are Philly’s parks still public? Why public spaces are monetized
More and more it seems business improvement nonprofits like Center City District are monetizing the public spaces it operates. Why are they allowed to do this?
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A zamboni puts a fresh gloss on the Dilworth Plaza ice rink. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
There’s a new Starbucks planned for Dilworth Park at Philadelphia City Hall that has a lot of people upset. And it’s indicative of nonprofits like the Center City District, which operates the park, finding ways to generate revenue using this public space, as well as other city-owned areas it maintains. On this episode of The Why, PlanPhilly reporter Ryan Briggs explains what’s behind the decision to use public spaces as a revenue stream.
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