City of Philadelphia announces "Lotscapes" Program

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The city of Philadelphia is launching a pilot program to turn publicly owned vacant lots into community spaces.

This Thursday, the initiative called "Lotscapes" showed off its first success story on Diamond Street, in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia.

This lot used to be a dumping ground for trash and debris, but volunteers are now transforming it into an area the neighborhood can enjoy.

The initiative brings city, community, and nonprofit partners together to design and build the neighborhood spaces.