Into the Open: Sustainability Tour

Thu., Aug. 13, 1 p.m., $35 (reservation required), National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6700, constitutioncenter.org.

by Kristen Humbert

[ tour ]

Without clean water, fresh food and effective waste management, Philadelphia would be a scary place. Fortunately, local institutions provide these services — often in innovative, sustainable ways.

The Slought Foundation, a local activist group, is partnering with the National Constitution Center and the Community Design Collaborative to furnish an exploration of these sometimes overlooked institutions. "The sustainability tour takes parts of the Philadelphia landscape and infrastructure and makes those aspects visible," says Slought director Aaron Levy. "It's an intimate portrait of recycling, urban farms and other hidden parts of the Philadelphia landscape."

The first stop along the three-pronged expedition will be Blue Mountain Recycling, the city's sole curbside recycling program. Next, attendees will visit Mill Creek Urban Farm, which provides locally grown fruits and veggies to the community. The third stop is the once-pumping Fairmount Water Works, which now educates visitors about water pollution and how our behavior affects waterways.

Levy hopes the tour will inspire people to rejuvenate the city by doing things like reclaiming some of its thousands of polluted vacant lots. "[Philly has] so much potential and possibility," he says.

Thu., Aug. 13, 1 p.m., $35 (reservation required), National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6700, constitutioncenter.org.