Thesis
Durable and equitable park funding systems: evaluating funding architectures for long term urban park resilience in Philadelphia
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Aug 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011597
Abstract
Urban park systems often secure capital funding for visible improvements while struggling to sustain the recurring operations and maintenance funding needed to keep those investments usable. Philadelphia illustrates this structural imbalance: physical access is high, yet operating support remains weak relative to peer systems while Rebuild has concentrated substantial resources in bond financed capital improvements. This study asks under what structural conditions park funding tools can produce a system that is both durable and equitable over time. It develops a four part framework focused on fiscal durability, operations and maintenance security, spatial equity, and governance accountability and applies it to Philadelphia using city budgets, fiscal reports, ParkScore data, policy documents, and comparative case studies. The findings indicate that the central challenge is a mismatch between existing mechanisms and the institutional conditions required to protect recurring operating support and distribute investment fairly across neighborhoods. Sweetened Beverage Tax reallocation can provide near term operating relief but is constrained by declining revenue and weak legal insulation. Public private partnerships can strengthen site level operating capacity but require binding equity safeguards. Tax Increment Financing can diversify long term capital funding where development conditions are favorable but does not solve operating needs by itself. A sequenced strategy that combines these tools, protects operations funding, and requires equitable reinvestment is more resilient than reliance on any single mechanism.
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Details
- Title
- Durable and equitable park funding systems
- Creators
- Samira Sadeghi
- Contributors
- Andrew Zitcer (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University
- Number of pages
- viii, 83 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Strategy; Architecture, Construction, Design, and Urbanism; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 991022233940104721