As a part of the 2016 Ed Bacon Better Philadelphia Challenge, the Mantua/Belmont neighborhoods of Philadelphia were chosen as one of President Obama's promise zones for economic development, one of only five in the nation. These neighborhoods border a few of Philadelphia’s largest institutions: University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, The Philadelphia Zoo, and Fairmount Park. As part of this neighborhood's development, what physical design interventions could encourage healthy and active lifestyles, thereby improving public health among residents?

Mantua/Belmont is just west of center city Philadelphia, across the Schuylkill River.

The residents of Mantua/Belmont have a rich artistic culture evident in the numerous murals you can find painted on what was a blank wall. The neighborhood also features many of the typical housing types found in the Philadelphia area.

The original master plan for Philadelphia by William Penn included five public parks in the dense urban fabric of center city Philadelphia. When expansion continued west across the Schuylkill, the neighborhoods were planned without any large scale public spaces in mind. We believe that Mantua/Belmont will become healthier neighborhoods by introducing outdoor public spaces.

The healthy square in Mantua and Belmont are comprised of four aspects: access to recreation, access to heealthy food, celebrating the local culture, and improving the deralecte houses and properties in west Philadelphia.

There are currently only nine areas that allow for recreation within Mantua/ Belmont, most being the playground of a elementary school.

The residents of Mantua/Belmont have no access to healthy food options, the only easliy accessable food comes from chinese food restaurants, or corner store delis.

The cultural centers within Mantua/Belmont are prodominetnly houses of worship, with almost no locations that help to foster artistic expression.

Mantua/Belmont features over 2400 vacant properties, a great advantage that allows for new development as well as more residents in the area.

The public squares were placed in a way that ensured that all residents would be within a five minuet walk of a public square, ensuring them access to recreation, healthy food, and cultural centers. The squares would be further connected by an improved bike lane network.

Master plan for the Mantua/Belmont neighborhoods

Plan of Manmont Square, the central public space of the proposal. There are six reasons why this developed into the central square for Mantua/Belmont:

The first being the major roads that are easily accessable from Manmont Square; 40th street, the major road that runs north-south and connects to: Girard ave, Lancaster ave, and Haverford st.

Manmont Square also comes in contact with three of the five bus routes that service west Philadelphia.

The Mantua Greenway, a proposed project that plans to extend current bike trails follows along the southern, and western edge of Manmont Square.

The Philadelphia Zoo is located within a five minuet walk from Manmont Square.

Manmont Square currently consists of over 90% vacant land available to purchase and develop on.

The cost of a standard block in west Philadelphia can cost you around 2.7 million, all of the land needed for Manmont Square could be purchased for the same amount. You get 13 times the amount of land for the same price.

Axonometric view showing all of Manmont Square.

A major feature of Manmont Square is the proposed train stop, it would be the first regional rail stop located within west Philadelphia. The train would help to bring current residents to and from center city.

Section through the train stop and commercial building

Step one of the proposal involves purchasing the land needed for the proposal.

Step two brings all the important needs to the square: the train stop, healthy food store and outdoor areas for recreation.

The important program developed in step three include the public library and parking garage.

Commercial buildings are added to help stimulate the local economy.

Step five introdeces artists studios and a day care into the neightborhoods.

The final addition to the square is a municipal building to help the neighborhood running smoothly.

Zoning map.

View of the outdoor covered area used as a outdoor artist gallery.

Section through the covered walkway.

This diagram shows how each building related to the original concept for a healthy square.

View from the healthy food market looking toward center city Philadelphia.