The City of Philadelphia has been selected by the City Parks Alliance to host the organization's Greater and Greener International urban parks conference in 2021.

The Greater and Greeners conference is presented every other year by the City Parks Alliance. 

Expected to attract 1,500 people from 200 cities and 20 countries to Philadelphia, the conference will bring together professionals and political leaders from around the world to explore the power of public parks to transform urban landscapes. 

“I am proud that Philadelphia was chosen to host the Greater & Greener conference in 2021,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a prepared statement. “Our selection as host for this international conference speaks to the value we have placed on our parks and public spaces as centers for civic engagement and community gathering.”

Philadelphia was one of 10 cities selected last year to compete to host one of the next three biennial conferences after the upcoming Greater & Greener 2017: Parks Connecting Cities, Cultures, and Generations conference in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Denver was named the host in 2019, with Philadelphia winning the honor in 2021 and Seattle in 2023.

Attendees will tour the Philadelphia area to gain an understanding of what’s worked for the city while also participating in conference sessions to explore the issues, challenges and opportunities facing today’s urban parks.

“Philadelphia is just really experiencing a renaissance in public space, driving the future of our city and its quality of life,” Kathryn Ott Lovell, commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, said. “We’re excited by the opportunity to welcome our peers to this great city and to share our successes as well as challenges.”