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Our Impact in Center City Philadelphia

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Center City District is the steward and advocate for a clean, safe, and thriving Center City Philadelphia — the heart of commerce, culture, and connection, generating opportunity and prosperity for the entire city and region.

199119972003 2008 2010201220142024

Years of moving Center City forward

A group of uniformed workers, some in teal shirts and others in white, stand smiling behind a teal street cleaning machine, on a city street.

1991

CCD’s beginning

In March 1991, the Center City District (CCD) began delivering services to 233 blocks of downtown Philadelphia. Created by the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation as a private-sector business improvement district and approved by City Council under the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act, CCD launched with a clear goal: make downtown clean and safe as the foundation for transforming Center City into a vibrant 24-hour destination attractive to businesses, residents, students, shoppers, and tourists.

1997

Major investments in streetscape improvements

CCD issued a $21 million bond backed by district revenues, matched with $5 million from the City of Philadelphia, to finance comprehensive streetscape improvements. The project installed 2,200 pedestrian-level lights, 957 directional pedestrian signs and maps, 841 transit signs and maps, 832 trees and planters, and 1,500 banner poles featuring colorful announcements of plays, art exhibitions, sports events, and other activities.

Outdoor cafe with red chairs and large umbrellas on a bustling city sidewalk. People are walking by, and lush greenery surrounds the seating area.

2003

Transformation of Cret Park begins

A long-term lease from the city enabled CCD to invest $2.3 million in improvements at 16th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Completed in 2008, the renovations included new landscaping, walkways, lighting, and the 1,200-square-foot Café Cret with outdoor seating. Rental income from the competitively selected operator was dedicated to park maintenance, making Cret Park the first to be managed by CCD and creating a sustainable model for future projects.

2008

Award-winning lighting comes to Avenue of the Arts

Using LED fixtures with a nearly infinite array of possible patterns and colors, CCD lit the façades of a dozen historic buildings along South Broad Street (the Avenue of the Arts), allowing for programmable, synchronized lighting effects ranging from subdued seasonal palettes to dynamic, special-event light shows. At the time of its installation, project was the largest synchronized permanent lighting display in the U.S. outside of Disney’s Epcot.

 

Urban garden with lush trees and a stone fountain. People sit and walk, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Fairy lights wrap tree trunks, adding a warm glow.

2010

CCD Foundation takes ownership of Collins Park

The William Penn Foundation transferred ownership of what was then known as Chestnut Park at 1707 Chestnut Street to the CCD Foundation in 2010. Two years later, the pocket park was renovated and dedicated to John F. Collins, the late landscape architect who originally designed this urban oasis with trees, landscaping, a fountain, and seating.

A group of children and adults sit on grass outside a building, engaged in a storytelling session. A storyteller in red holds a book, while kids listen attentively. Trees and city buildings are visible in the background, creating a lively, community-focused atmosphere.

2012

Sister Cities Park reimagined

CCD opened Sister Cities Park at 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The $5.2 million project transformed 1.3 acres of unused land into a family-friendly public space with rich plantings and lighting. Features include a Children’s Discovery Garden, play stream and boat pond, a café, and a distinctive bluestone fountain commemorating Philadelphia’s Sister Cities partnerships with 10 cities worldwide.

A bustling urban square with people walking, a historic building, lush green landscaping, and birds flying against a bright blue, cloudy sky.

2014

Dilworth Park transformed

The $55 million Dilworth Park at City Hall, CCD’s most ambitious project to date, opened in September 2014 after 31 months of construction. The 4.5-acre park on the west side of City Hall sits atop a major public transit hub and is a year-round public gathering space with cafés, shade trees, and free programming. A summertime play fountain transforms into an ice-skating rink in winter, and an open lawn space becomes a wintergarden.

A lively city street scene with people dining at outdoor cafes. Three people walk by, surrounded by buildings, greenery, and a bustling, sunny atmosphere.

2024

Open Streets launches

In 2024, the CCD expanded its placemaking efforts by transforming one of Philadelphia’s most popular shopping and dining destinations, Walnut Street from 15th to 19th and 18th Street from Chestnut to Locust, by temporarily closing streets to vehicular traffic on select Sundays. The Open Streets initiative was instantly popular with pedestrians, and businesses reported marked increases in store visitation and sales.

Years of moving Center City forward

A group of uniformed workers, some in teal shirts and others in white, stand smiling behind a teal street cleaning machine, on a city street.
Outdoor cafe with red chairs and large umbrellas on a bustling city sidewalk. People are walking by, and lush greenery surrounds the seating area.
Urban garden with lush trees and a stone fountain. People sit and walk, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Fairy lights wrap tree trunks, adding a warm glow.
A group of children and adults sit on grass outside a building, engaged in a storytelling session. A storyteller in red holds a book, while kids listen attentively. Trees and city buildings are visible in the background, creating a lively, community-focused atmosphere.
A bustling urban square with people walking, a historic building, lush green landscaping, and birds flying against a bright blue, cloudy sky.
A lively city street scene with people dining at outdoor cafes. Three people walk by, surrounded by buildings, greenery, and a bustling, sunny atmosphere.
199119972003 2008 2010201220142024
CCD’s beginning

In March 1991, the Center City District (CCD) began delivering services to 233 blocks of downtown Philadelphia. Created by the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation as a private-sector business improvement district and approved by City Council under the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act, CCD launched with a clear goal: make downtown clean and safe as the foundation for transforming Center City into a vibrant 24-hour destination attractive to businesses, residents, students, shoppers, and tourists.

Major investments in streetscape improvements

CCD issued a $21 million bond backed by district revenues, matched with $5 million from the City of Philadelphia, to finance comprehensive streetscape improvements. The project installed 2,200 pedestrian-level lights, 957 directional pedestrian signs and maps, 841 transit signs and maps, 832 trees and planters, and 1,500 banner poles featuring colorful announcements of plays, art exhibitions, sports events, and other activities.

Transformation of Cret Park begins

A long-term lease from the city enabled CCD to invest $2.3 million in improvements at 16th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Completed in 2008, the renovations included new landscaping, walkways, lighting, and the 1,200-square-foot Café Cret with outdoor seating. Rental income from the competitively selected operator was dedicated to park maintenance, making Cret Park the first to be managed by CCD and creating a sustainable model for future projects.

Award-winning lighting comes to Avenue of the Arts

Using LED fixtures with a nearly infinite array of possible patterns and colors, CCD lit the façades of a dozen historic buildings along South Broad Street (the Avenue of the Arts), allowing for programmable, synchronized lighting effects ranging from subdued seasonal palettes to dynamic, special-event light shows. At the time of its installation, project was the largest synchronized permanent lighting display in the U.S. outside of Disney’s Epcot.

 

CCD Foundation takes ownership of Collins Park

The William Penn Foundation transferred ownership of what was then known as Chestnut Park at 1707 Chestnut Street to the CCD Foundation in 2010. Two years later, the pocket park was renovated and dedicated to John F. Collins, the late landscape architect who originally designed this urban oasis with trees, landscaping, a fountain, and seating.

Sister Cities Park reimagined

CCD opened Sister Cities Park at 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The $5.2 million project transformed 1.3 acres of unused land into a family-friendly public space with rich plantings and lighting. Features include a Children’s Discovery Garden, play stream and boat pond, a café, and a distinctive bluestone fountain commemorating Philadelphia’s Sister Cities partnerships with 10 cities worldwide.

Dilworth Park transformed

The $55 million Dilworth Park at City Hall, CCD’s most ambitious project to date, opened in September 2014 after 31 months of construction. The 4.5-acre park on the west side of City Hall sits atop a major public transit hub and is a year-round public gathering space with cafés, shade trees, and free programming. A summertime play fountain transforms into an ice-skating rink in winter, and an open lawn space becomes a wintergarden.

Open Streets launches

In 2024, the CCD expanded its placemaking efforts by transforming one of Philadelphia’s most popular shopping and dining destinations, Walnut Street from 15th to 19th and 18th Street from Chestnut to Locust, by temporarily closing streets to vehicular traffic on select Sundays. The Open Streets initiative was instantly popular with pedestrians, and businesses reported marked increases in store visitation and sales.

CCD's impact by the numbers, 2025

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CSR interactions with pedestrians 

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tons of trash removed by cleaners

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unsheltered people connected to services

Providing research to spark change

Center City District, with support from the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, distills data from local, regional, and national sources into insights for downtown stakeholders and policymakers.

Research & Planning
A vibrant city street with tall buildings and a clear blue sky. Cars drive along red bus lanes. Pedestrians walk by shops, including American Eagle.

Learn more about CCD

A woman in a black suit smiling and holding a flyer stands with a security officer in a teal uniform. They are engaged in conversation outside a building with a wooden door.

Who We Are

A security guard in a teal jacket holding a tablet gestures while speaking to pedestrians. Urban setting, overcast day, businesslike atmosphere.

What We Do

CCD Boundaries