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Overview
Philadelphia organizers feared the exact crowds that Pokémon GO attracted in San Jose; what was a positive in one city might have been a negative here. The route was still considerable (at 3.7 miles long), but placed more emphasis on encouraging locals to visit different neighborhoods — rather than reach distant tourists.
According to Niantic metrics, approximately 10,000 people logged in to play during the event — roughly 25% of those estimated to attend the overall event by the city. This matched city goals, but only happened through deliberate decisions about how to position the game and invite player networks.
Philly Free Streets highlights active transportation options, as well as neighborhood walkability and its positive impacts on public health, the environment, business, and the community. More than a dozen locations along the route hosted activities ranging from Latin dance classes to jewelry-making.
Full Report
>> This city is featured in our detailed report! Read the PDF version for the most complete description, based on our team’s interviews, direct observation in Philadelphia, and player surveys.
Exclusive analysis in the report:
- Turnout indicators
- Narrative of how the experience felt
- Comparison with the San Jose open streets case, and how the two cities achieved different goals
Key images
(See the Curbed article, “Scenes and portraits from Philly Free Streets 2017.”)
More on the Philly Free Streets remix
- Our official report dives into the Philadelphia case, contrasting it with San Jose in particular
- Reflections by Philadelphia event organizer Charlotte Castle on “Streets for people: using Pokémon GO to power civic engagement” (via Knight blog, January 8, 2018)
- Press release: “Pokémon GO adds new ways to explore Philly Free Streets” (9/6/2017 from the Office of the Mayor of Philadelphia)
- Philly Free Streets website, a “people-powered initiative of the City of Philadelphia,” managed the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems.
- Coverage from the Philly Voice: “Pokemon GO coming to Philly Free Streets event” by John Kopp, September 6, 2017
- Our blog post about Social Mixing and AR focuses primarily on this event.
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