Join us for three days of learning, connecting, and celebrating at Main Street Now 2025 in Philadelphia, from April 7 – 9.
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Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams
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Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street
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Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo
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The “Freedom Now!” mural celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech in West Philadelphia. © Steve Weinik
Main Street America — alongside our co-host partners Pennsylvania Downtown Center and Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development—is incredibly excited to co-host the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 7 – 9. In this first article of a three-part series exploring the intersection between this year’s conference theme — A Healthy Main Street Movement — and community-based initiatives in Philadelphia, we are pleased to collaborate with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Keep reading to learn more about the role that connection plays in fostering health in Philadelphia and how you can experience these efforts in person at Main Street Now 2025.
Conference registration is open, with early bird rates available through February 4. Check out the conference website and follow the conference’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest updates.
What is a healthy community? The first thing that may come to mind is a place where there is a hospital or some sort of healthcare provider. Next, we might consider places where residents and visitors can walk or hike along a path or trail, or where there are opportunities for additional recreation right outside your doorstep. We might even think of wellness businesses or community activities like yoga studios, juice bars, dance classes, and Tai chi in the park. Safe public spaces where we can strengthen our minds, raise our spirits, or meet up with old friends and make new ones. Activities for children — bike rodeos and traffic gardens, walking paths to school and the park, and public art, lots of public art! A place where folks choose to raise a family, start a business, or retire — a place to call home.
A healthy community is a welcoming place, where everyone feels seen, respected, and included. It offers lots of ways to get where we need (and want) to go. It offers a variety of options to live and work, pray and play. A healthy community provides places to connect with our neighbors and contribute to society, to volunteer, and to serve.
Philadelphia is one of those places. Famous for its cheesesteaks and overly enthusiastic sports fans, the city is also known for its public murals, parks, and gardens. We invite you to explore Philly with us as we share how our nonprofit partners, city government, region, and people work to build and maintain a connected community in Philadelphia.
Bicycles are a great way to explore Philadelphia. © J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA
Transit Forward Philadelphia is a coalition of Philadelphia-based organizations fighting to improve public transit in Southeast Pennsylvania, advocating for transit improvements that benefit all Philadelphians and better connect the Greater Philadelphia region. They accomplish their mission by “amplifying voices of riders and residents in support of a transit network that is the preferred mode of transportation in Greater Philadelphia.” Their work has helped create a more equity-focused approach for the region’s many transit options.
As a visitor to Philly, you might not know what you want to visit, but you’ll have lots of options to get you wherever you decide you’re going. Indego, Philly’s Bike Share system, is one of the easiest ways to get around. Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has several curated Neighborhood Ride Guides available to download ahead of time or view on-the-go using Google Maps, and there will be extra bikes stationed near and around the conference hotel, ready and waiting for you to explore.
The Coalition’s mission is to “make every bicycle ride safe, to empower youth and adults to ride, and to foster a ridership that reflects the diversity of the region,” and they can provide some additional guidance to help you navigate the city. Philadelphia has your run of the mill conventional bike lanes, but you can also find protected bike lanes, shared lanes/sharrows, buffered/painted lines, circuit trails, shared use paths (non-circuit), and side paths.
Philly is also connected by its public transit, SEPTA, one of the largest systems in the country including regional rail, buses, trolleys, subways and a high-speed line. We’ll be using some of the lines throughout the conference providing transit options as part of certain mobile tour experiences. We hope that you’ll explore on your own, as SEPTA provides lots of options connecting the city with a five-county region, including New Jersey and Delaware.
The “Continuum” mural celebrates the history of the area, from Indigenous peoples to modern expansion. © Steve Weinik
Another leading organization in the area is Mural Arts Philadelphia. Once you arrive in Philly, I guarantee it won’t be long before you start noticing some of the gorgeous, awe-inspiring, and conversation-igniting murals throughout our city. For the last 40 years, Mural Arts has existed “to provide transformative experiences, progressive discourse, and economic stimulus to the City of Philadelphia through participatory public art that beautifies, advocacy that inspires, and educational programming and employment opportunities that empower.”
Mural Arts is more than a public arts organization. They unite and engage the community in up to 100 projects each year, all while maintaining and restoring their constantly growing collection. Their core program areas—Art Education, Community Murals, Porch Light, and Restorative Justice—demonstrate their wide scope “yielding unique, project-based learning opportunities for thousands of youth and adults.” It’s in the stories each mural tells, sometimes as a whisper and other times with an exclamation!
One project we encourage you to explore is “We Here: Clay Heals Minds” in Kensington, an immersive project that aims to preserve the culture and identity of the neighborhood, connecting the arts, behavioral health, and community well-being. Inspired by Roberto Lugo’s journey as an artist who grew up in Kensington, “We Here” encourages engagement and joy through pottery, with an emphasis on youth engagement, and fosters a sense of unity and enrichment through artistic collaboration.
Another awe-inspiring and brand-new mural is “Continuum”. Local artist LaToya Peoples returned to the Northeast Philadelphia’s historical roots, weaving in an Indigenous Lenape beadwork pattern and local creeks: Pennypack, Tacony, and Wissinoming, which are home to the various native flowers shown throughout the mural. The mural also depicts the construction boom of the 1950s — row homes that we recognize in the neighborhood today, housing the families and businesses that weave together with the community’s past and future. The various faces depict the diversity of the region, looking together toward a shared goal of a thriving community.
Lastly, an older mural that has recently been restored is the iconic “Freedom Now!” mural at 40th and Lancaster Avenues, commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1965 speech in West Philadelphia. This event drew a crowd of approximately 10,000 Philadelphians, where Dr. King passionately spoke about the need for “freedom now” in the city. The mural, originally painted by artist Cliff Eubanks, was restored with the assistance of Kien Nguyen and Efrain Herrera.
We are thrilled to offer two conference mobile workshops through Mural Arts, but we also encourage you to explore the murals on your own and through their self-guided tour. You can become one of the annual 15,000 residents and visitors who tour this outdoor art gallery, earning Philadelphia recognition as the “Mural Capital of the World.”
Residents connect during a garden party at the We Here art installation. © Erin Blewett
“Connection is a powerful tool that can help us name and achieve shared goals for our Main Streets.”
Connection is a key theme for the 2025 Main Street Now Conference, and we hope that the art, culture, and infrastructure of Philadelphia will inspire you to think about connection in new and deeper ways. As you join us in Philly, we invite you to connect with the city, the region, each other, and the Main Street Movement. Utilize Indego, SEPTA, and other transportation options to explore the many neighborhoods that make up the city. Explore the murals and other public art installations that color our buildings and gathering spaces. Philadelphia is a city of connection, and we can’t wait to connect with you here.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Main Street programs, arts organizations, and transportation infrastructure partners can support health in your community, make sure to register for the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 7 – 9. With 100+ learning and network-building events in three days, you’re sure to return to your community inspired to think about connection in new and deeper ways. Registration is now open! Preview the agenda, start planning your visit, and register here >
Downtown Decorations, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter’s Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about what they do to support Main Street organizations, click here.
Thanks to the GM on Main Street grant, Columbia, Tenn. embarked on an ambitious downtown revitalization project to add curb extensions, greenspace, and two informational kiosks to downtown Columbia.
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Holly, Mich. received funding from the GM on Main Streett grant for their Beautify Holly Battle Alley Social District and Ganshaw Park projects.
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Chief Innovation Officer Matt Wagner, Ph.D., shares his predictions for the trends impacting Main Streets and small businesses in 2025.
Music has a unifying power to bring people of all generations, backgrounds, and cultures together for creative expression. Let’s explore how accessible, family-friendly music experiences can strengthen Main Streets across America to build stronger communities, one concert at a time!
Main Street America is pleased to announce the launch of a $1.8 million sub-grant program as part of our partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Thriving Communities Program.
Beloit, Kansas © Shane Hampton
Construction projects can put a lot of stress on your downtown. From preparation to completion, Brooke Prouty at Iowa Economic Development Authority shares best practices to help your Main Street thrive during construction.
Creating real change in business ownership starts with local communities leading the way, backed by strong partnerships and collaborations.
At the heart of thriving Main Streets are vibrant public spaces that unite people of all ages and backgrounds and enrich community life. And what better way to activate public spaces than through the power of free, live music?
Middlesboro, Kentucky © Levitt Foundation
Learn how Main Streets can tap into federal resources to improve transportation infrastructure, take down barriers, and improve access to key services.
Main Street America is proud to announce the release of a new resource to help Main Streets and commercial district organizations better prepare for and respond to more frequent and severe disasters.
Marion, IA © Uptown Marion
This Boston Main Street installed an innovative street mural to highlight crosswalks and improve pedestrian safety.
These seven Main Streets have implemented innovative, exciting, and fun programs to help welcome dogs to their downtowns.
MSA President and CEO Erin Barnes explores how a holiday market in a public park brought a new focus on growing humanitarian needs in downtown city centers.
The RAISE program funds surface transportation projects with local and regional impact by enhancing safety, mobility, sustainability, and economic growth.
Streetscape improvements can make a big difference for Main Streets. © Grant Harper
Learn how Main Street America's work with the DOT's Thriving Communities Program is supporting transformative efforts with community partners like the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe.
Apply for federal funding to remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation infrastructure that creates barriers to community connectivity.
Art is a powerful tool for community change. Learn how the arts can improve community engagement, boost economic development, and connect with the Main Street Approach.
Streets play an important role in our downtown districts. Learn more about Main Street America's recent work with the Department of Transportation to promote vibrant and sustainable downtown roadways.
Learn how the Safe Streets and Roads for All program is providing grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
Streetscape in Denison, Texas. © Mel Climer — Climer Design
REV Birmingham and Woodlawn United share how they work to reenergize spaces and places in Birmingham, Alabama, through civic infrastructure projects in the city’s historic commercial corridors.
Learn how this Louisiana town has used an accessibility-first approach to build a welcoming and inclusive community.
Downtown Ruston, Louisiana. Photo by Henry McCoy.
Learn how the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta uses this unique mural program to celebrate Valentine's Day and raise important funding for their work.
Learn how micromobility can increase access, equity, and inclusion in your Main Street with examples from local programs across the network.
This Washington Main Street is encouraging people to brave the rainy weather with their free umbrella share program.
Parking is a challenging problem for many Main Streets. We explored the arguments for and against free parking, and a method for conducting an inventory of parking in your downtown.
Miami, FL © Matt Alaniz
Learn how Bainbridge Island Downtown Association leverages their connection to the ferry to create a walkable and vibrant downtown.
Bainbridge Island, WA © Anna Carson
An innovative artistic project brings new life to the alleyways in Billings, Montana.
Billings, MT © Downtown Billings Alliance
In big cities and small towns, people face increasing danger when navigating communities on foot. As advocates for connected and walkable downtowns, Main Streets have a crucial role to play in increasing pedestrian safety.
Lansing, Michigan © Lansing 5:01
Learn how you can participate in the Thriving Communities program as a capacity builder or how you can receive support from the program.
To celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, we explored three innovative and interesting parks-based projects and collaborations in Main Street communities.
Waterloo, Iowa, shares advice and lessons learned from their e-scooter program.
Learn how you can harness design principles and strategies to create a cooler, more welcoming downtown.
Main Street America was awarded $5.9 million to support 20 communities in the Main Streets Community of Practice through the Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program over the next two years.
The City of Leeds, AL welcomed a new downtown mural over the holidays that has brought a sense of excitement and anticipation for the continuing efforts to focus on the Leeds downtown district.
Leeds, AL © Jeremy Dove
What is more Iowan than turning grain bins into public art? Learn how Main Street Coon Rapids created these beautiful murals to celebrate their downtown.
Coon Rapids, IA © Main Street Coon Rapids
Pollinator gardens are fantastic ways to increase green space, promote sustainability, and educate your community on the local environment.
Crofton, MD © Kerry Kelly
The AARP Community Challenge program gives out quick-action grants to activate public spaces. Meet some of the Main Streets awarded grants through the program this year.
Learn how these outdoor microspaces can contribute to more vibrancy in our public spaces.
Chairman Emeritus Ed McMahon explores the power of place in creating spaces people love.
Boise, ID © christiannafzger
To support Georgia Main Streets throughout the recovery process and position them for long-term sustainability, Main Street America launched the Georgia Main Street Innovation Grant Program, made possible through generous support from The Williams Family Foundation of Georgia.
Thomasville, GA © Thomasville Main Street
Intentional placemaking has had many unexpected benefits for this Alabama town.
Wetumpka, AL © Jenny Sue Stubbs
We heard from organizations across the nation about the incredible impact their markets have had on community engagement, entrepreneur and small business support, and keeping their district vibrant.
Mount Airy Downtown, Inc., celebrated the return of their Market Street Arts and Entertainment District (MSA & ED) last weekend, as part of their pandemic recovery efforts.
Mount Airy, NC © Robbie Curlee
A vacant storefront is the perfect stage to creatively promote the available space or to showcase other businesses and events in the area.
Ripon, WI © RetailWorks, Inc
Interested in creating a StoryWalk in your downtown commercial district? Read on to learn more about installing a successful story walking trail.
In remembrance and in honor of Dr. Marin Luther King Jr., over 900 streets in the United States were named after him. Many are located predominantly in African American communities.
Milwaukee, WI © Historic King Drive BID
Dubbed the Blues Alley, the Ripley Main Street program plans to install murals of local pioneering Black blues artists, cutout guitars painted by local art students, and blues lyrics painted on the walls.
Ripley, MS © Ripley Main Street
Wayfinding guides people to places they seek but it also brings awareness to places they may have otherwise missed.
Since 2013, Try This West Virginia has sought to improve health environments in local communities as a collaboration of organizations working together to combat the health challenges facing West Virginians.
Main Street America partnered with OneMain Financial to create Made on Main Street.
Creating a historic or art walking tour is much more than simply a collection of pictures and descriptions.
Over 300 attendees enjoyed a family-friendly block party that celebrated the community and showcased Prosser's upcoming streetscape improvement project.
Cambridge was the first Main Street community in Maryland to install public chargers.
The Downtown Newton Development Association (North Carolina) partnered with the City of Newton on a temporary tactical urbanism project to demonstrate how their permanent streetscape improvements will benefit downtown.
Over 500 people braved the misty rain this past weekend to come and celebrate Painesville and its Made on Main Street community transformation project.
Wilson Artsy Alleys is an initiative of the Wilson Downtown Development Corporation which takes the arts to new locations in forgotten places.
In October 2017, Main Street Ottumwa collaborated with local partners, Main Street Iowa, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Better Block Foundation to stop planning, talking, and wishing, and start doing.
Kelly Tompkins of Main Street Enid shares more about the Maker Trail project and how it inspired creativity and helped people discover downtown.
The Metuchen Downtown Alliance created a cool, family-friendly public gathering space in “the worst looking spot in town” with the help of just $2,500 in Edward Jones Placemaking on Main Challenge matching grant funds,
A collaborative effort launched between Laramie Main Street Alliance (LMSA) and vertical farming company, Plenty, looked to blank downtown walls as a canvas for growing food, creating conversation, and activating overlooked spaces.
From walkability and transportation connectivity, to access to nature and availability of fresh food, place is inextricably linked to achieving positive health outcomes in rural America.
Beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower fountain through Main Street Paris's new Love Lock Fence.
Kasey Drummond, Glenrock Main Street Director, explains how they brought the acclaimed graffiti artist ARCY to their Main Street and explores the work he produced in three additional Wyoming communities on his summer tour.
Karen Dye, Newkirk Main Street's program manager, was inspired to “make downtown more fun and festive” with painted water meter covers after learning about the practice at a recent Main Street Now conference.
Appealing to mobility-challenged shoppers yields benefits beyond the store.
In contrast, the Main Street Program in Laramie, Wyoming, is thriving, having successfully cultivated millions of dollars to help fill these vacant, blighted spaces with permanent structures.
In this article we’ll explore the process of planning, funding, installing, operating, and enjoying music on your Main Street.
In 2016, the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center partnered with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Interior Architecture (UNCG) to provide design assistance to Main Street communities.
Placemaking is a strategy that Six Corners Association has enthusiastically applied to our community development efforts because of its seamless integration with the Main Street Approach.
How one Wyoming Main Street implemented a free bike share program.
In 2015, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) partnered with the University of Wisconsin–Madison to engage Wisconsin Main Street organizations and farmers markets in the Metrics and Indicators for Impact – Farmers Markets (MIFI-FM) toolkit.
The local Main Street organization, Downtown Milford Inc., is trying to address these shifting demographics by creating a more inclusive sense of community.
This is the story of how a National Endowment for the Arts gathering in DC inspired the leaders of a small town in Appalachia to connect with those in Milwaukee to transform a neglected park.
Main Street communities across the country are no stranger to seeking creative strategies to solve their most nagging issues – vacant buildings, marketing downtown, bolstering retail to name a few.
This article is the second in a series on corridors and the important role they play in Main Street revitalization. The previous article focused on the historic origins of corridors, corridor types, and functions that they serve in our communities.
Façade appearance is a critical aspect of the overall aesthetic appeal and unique character of downtown.
While the Main Street program may not take the lead in corridor enhancements, it can be a vital partner and advocate for improvements in overall community appearance.
Street pole banners preserve the historic character of main streets while fostering community awareness and engagement.
With strong community support, the Library Foundation was able to raise over $1.2 million dollars in private donations.
A lot of signs are necessary to make a downtown work well, but not every community knows what a good sign system looks like, or how instrumental it can be to the creation of a successful downtown.
A key goal of the Atlanta Streetcar is to attract investment to and revitalize the neighborhoods along the streetcar alignment.
