University of Pennsylvania
In 1987, Sheldon Hackney, President of Penn, secured a grant from J.N. Pew Charitable Trust, which launched the West Philadelphia Landscape Plan and Greening Project, a collaboration among Penn’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, Philadelphia Green, the Organization and Management Group, and the West Philadelphia Partnership. Anne Spirn, who was professor and chair of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, became co-director of this initial phase of the project, which lasted until 1991. From 1987-2000, WPLP was based at Penn. During this time, more than 100 Penn students participated in research and classes associated with WPLP.