The Parkway is a place where everyone feels welcome. It serves thousands of neighbors to its north and south. It is the home for many of the City’s major cultural, education and religious institutions that attract people from across the region and around the world. It is a place with hotels, residential towers and several office buildings. It is the place for iconic public events that attract regional and national attention, but sometimes create challenges for local institutions and adjacent neighborhoods. But it is also a place with large empty spaces, not all of which have sufficient resources to be maintained.

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation and History Making Productions have produced a video showing a portion of a forthcoming documentary that looks at the history and development of the Parkway, and sets the stage for a discussion of challenges, opportunities and recommendations about what should be next.