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.

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…