To o k a n y/ Ta c o n y - Fr a n k f o r d Wa t e r s h e d P a r t n e r s h i p | 2 0 1 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t
Stories Nature Up Close and Personal Our connection to nature and desire to protect it sustains our work, but our work does not focus on the natural environment alone. We are helping neighbors imagine and build a more harmonious interaction between the built and natural environment—the concrete and the creek, the brick and the birds.
Using Art & Creativity to expand our reach & impact
“I think it’s really important for everyone to realize that nature isn’t something in a distant land far away” — Evan Lovett, V.U.R.T. Creative
To do this, we looked to art to help us see our environment anew, but we knew we had to find a special partner who understood both nature and the city.
murals in Tacony Creek Park highlighting four of more than a hundred species of birds that you can spot in the park.
When we heard about the forty-foot pigeon mural in Fishtown made by the same group of artists who painted a two-story raccoon hoarding a pretzel aptly named “The Pretzel Bandit,” we knew we had found our match.
Thanks to V.U.R.T Creative, you can walk right up to a beautiful Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon, or a White-breasted Nuthatch underneath what was previously an unwelcoming underpass.
V.U.R.T. Creative’s “Local Critters” mural series playfully calls attention to the presence of wildlife in the urban environment. We knew they’d be the perfect partners to complete a series of four
“I think it’s really important for everyone to realize that nature isn’t something in a distant land far away,” said V.U.R.T. Creative’s Evan Lovett.
“There’s nature all around us, and when you come to a park like this, you can gain a greater appreciation for all the species that live within our environment.” Murals help us reimagine the spaces around us. We hope that the murals under Whitaker Avenue share the message that this is a special place where the city and nature come together. Just as many species of birds visit the park for rest or food during migration, we hope that you feel welcome to connect with the park and discover regeneration here as well.
Creekforce One This is why TTF needed a van We know you will love walking up to the beautiful Great Blue Heron mural in Tacony Creek Park without scaring it off, but don’t worry—this bird can fly. Witness its flight on our new Sprinter van, Creekforce One. To feature our mascot—the Great Blue Heron—we turned to our partners at V.U.R.T. Creative to design the gorgeous wrap on our vehicle that helps us haul tools, trees, and shrubs for creek-side plantings, wheelbarrows and supplies for trash clean-ups, and rain barrels and tabling supplies for neighborhood events. We are thankful that the support of 131 donors enabled us to realize our dream of owning our own vehicle to better serve our community and promote our vision. Creekforce One made its first official public appearance at our Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception at our home at the Globe Dye Works on May 15, 2019. Look for the Heron taking flight through the streets from Jenkintown to Juniata Park, and in between! “ For over a decade, TTF staff packed their personal vehicles to the brim with shrubs, shovels, and supplies for the dozens of events we host each year. We came to the realization that we were at our capacity and needed our own van to get our work done. And when we asked, the TTF community responded with tremendous support!” — Emilie Wetzel, TTF staff
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Belted Kingfisher mural in Tacony Creek Park by V.U.R.T. Creative
Great Blue Heron mural in Tacony Creek Park by V.U.R.T. Creative
White-breasted Nuthatch mural in Tacony Creek Park by V.U.R.T. Creative
