Scenic Philadelphia was founded in 1990 as a grassroots coalition to stop the proliferation of billboards in Philadelphia. Victory came in 1991, when Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed two comprehensive sign-control ordinances. Passage of this legislation was attributed to the coalition's success in mounting an extensive media campaign to educate and activate community leaders citywide.

Scenic Philadelphia has worked with community groups to obtain consistent enforcement of sign control laws, and successfully used the courts as an alternative remedy. Our impact has elevated Scenic Philadelphia's visibility as a leading protector of Philadelphia's unique visual assets. For instance,

• Scenic Philadelphia has joined with neighborhood civic associations to provide testimony at more than 50 zoning hearings.
• Scenic Philadelphia's volunteer attorneys have represented community organizations and local taxpayers in 40 court appeals and secured the removal of more than 1,000 illegal billboards located in Philadelphia neighborhoods.
• Scenic Philadelphia and its neighborhood partners have prevented the construction of an additional 50 billboards and wall wraps.
• As of September 2008, Scenic Philadelphia's efforts have removed or prevented about 500,000 square feet of outdoor advertising.

Over the years, Scenic Philadelphia's persistence, integrity, and commitment have earned it a highly respected reputation with neighborhood groups, municipal agencies, elected officials, and even the billboard industry-worlds that often collide and for whom Scenic Philadelphia serves as an intermediary. Further, these successes have elevated Scenic Philadelphia's visibility as a leading protector of Philadelphia's unique visual assets.