Achieve with us.

The Arc Community Greenspace is a collaboration between The Arc, the City of Meadville, and the Art & Environment Initiative with loads if input from community stakeholders and event participants. It was developed as a community venue where individuals from The Arc and the Meadville community can safely gather and form natural relationships through participation in arts, culture, and community events. The site is available to the public as an informal gathering space and as a venue for live concerts, community theatre and arts-engagement. The adjacent parking lot is used for overflow space for larger events on the weekends and in the evening. If you'd like to propose an event, please complete this form.
The Arc Community Greenspace

Since 2018 The Arc has organized more than 13 community-engagement events during Second Saturday Markets, First Fridays, and Community Movie Nights Under the Stars. These events, featuring art, culture, and wellness, have supported development of a community vision for site design and community-informed public art that has beautified the site while addressing issues of slum and blight. Click here to see photos. If you'd like to propose an event, please compete this form.
ENGAGEMENT

Creative Communities Initiative -
PA Council on the Arts and DCED
Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts
Project Stream Grant -
PA Council on the Arts
Community Heart and Soul -
Pennsylvania Humanities Council and
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) -
Community Conservation Partnership Program
GRANTS

The Arc Community Greenspace has transformed a vacant and blighted city lot in the heart of Meadville's Chestnut Street business district into an inclusive, art-filled greenspace that celebrates Mill Run, models solar energy, and builds community capacity. The site serves as a venue for arts, culture and wellness events organized by the community for the community and is also available as an informal community gathering space. Click here to learn about our community values. If you'd like to propose an event, please compete this form.
PLACEMAKING
PRESS STORIES
March 2023 - Meadville Tribune
Greenspace Construction Begins
October 2022- Meadville Tribune
Council approved Greenspace Contract
September 2022- Meadville Tribune
Second Mural Installed at Greenspace
July 2022- Meadville Tribune
Second Saturday Night Live returns tonight
April 2022- Meadville Tribune
Armstrong Cable Provides Wifi Access at Green-space
February 2022- Erie Arts & Culture
Mercer & Crawford Awarded Pilot Grant from the State
December 2021- Meadville Tribune
Solar-powered Seating Added to Greenspace
September 2020- Your Erie.com & Meadville Tribune
New Flower mural added to Meadville Building
June 2020- Meadville Tribune
Greenspace Project Preparations Resume
For additional press stories, click here

Art and Environment
Initiative.
The lead artist on this project is Amara Geffen, director of the Art & Environment Initiative, which promotes regional revitalization & beautification through arts-based placemaking and the creation of community-centered public art. The wooly mammoth sculpture pictured left, was developed by Geffen through an Our Town Grant, which she directed in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania. The sculpture is located at Fireman's Beach. Click here for a short video of the fabrication process