Authorizing the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold a hearing to explore strategies for incorporating youth voices in Parks and Recreation advisory councils and decision-making processes.

WHEREAS, the City of Philadelphia is home to a diverse and vibrant population of young people who utilize public parks, recreation centers, and programming provided by the Department of Parks and Recreation for their physical, social, and emotional development; and

WHEREAS, youth engagement is a critical component of civic life and decision-making that fosters leadership, builds community trust, and ensures that policies and programs reflect the needs and interests of all stakeholders, especially those directly impacted; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation currently engages community members through advisory councils and committees, but formal, consistent, and supported mechanisms for youth participation remain limited and many young people across Philadelphia face barriers to participating in civic dialogue and their perspectives are often underrepresented in advisory bodies that influence the planning and operation of public spaces; and

WHEREAS, students from Palumbo High School have expressed a strong interest in contributing their perspectives on Parks and Recreation programming, recognizing the importance of youth-centered input in shaping recreational opportunities that are responsive, inclusive, and reflective of the needs and interests of young people in their communities; and

WHEREAS, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Youth Engagement (OYE) acknowledges that young people have valuable insights, lived experiences, and innovative ideas about how to improve the City and believes that their voices are essential to creating more responsive, equitable, and youth-friendly public policies and programs; and

WHEREAS, incorporating youth voices into existing advisory councils can promote equitable access, and safer, more inclusive public spaces, and aligns with the City’s goals of youth empowerment and community-driven development; and

WHEREAS, cities across the country have successfully implemented youth advisory councils, participatory budgeting for youth programs, and youth-led planning initiatives that have improved outcomes and increased youth ownership of public resources; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls for a hearing in the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to examine opportunities and best practices for incorporating youth voices in Parks and Recreation advisory councils and decision-making processes, and to explore mechanisms for sustained, equitable, and meaningful youth participation in shaping the future of Philadelphia’s parks and recreational services.

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