Restoration and Improvements

The health of our community and the health of our watershed are closely linked

Our water quality improvement work focuses on the Jenkintown Creek, a 4-mile long headwater creek which begins in Abington and flows into the Tookany Creek. Since 2014, through the Delaware River Watershed Initiative established by the William Penn Foundation, we worked with a variety of partners to install 7 green stormwater features planted along 1,500 linear feet of waterways and restored wetlands. We secured more than $1 million to support these projects and mobilized hundreds of volunteers.

In September 2018, we installed a swale along the parking lot at Abington Township’s Alverthorpe Park with funding from the Delaware River Restoration Fund of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This narrow rain garden cleans and slows down polluted stormwater runoff from the 38,000 square foot parking lot. Over 20 hardworking volunteers joined us to plant over 1,000 species of native plants including Cardinal flower, Allegheny Monkeyflower, Black-eyed Susan, Goldenrod, New England Aster, Purple Coneflower, Willowleaf Sunflower, and Blue Flag. This project will make Jenkintown Creek healthier and provide beautiful blooms year-round.

Alverthorpe Park’s new rain garden, thanks to the help of these diligent volunteers

What are the Hallmarks of a Successful Water Project?

The health of our community and the health of our watershed are closely linked. Our work springs from this sense of interconnectedness. Projects are successful when they begin with community engagement that celebrates the diversity of our stakeholders. We don’t work in isolation—we share our challenges and our successes to reach our shared goal of a healthy watershed. We find so much joy working this way. At our Clean Creeks, Healthy Neighborhoods Forum at the Basilian Spirituality Center in the Fall of 2018, speaker Rosanne Mistretta pointed to the meaningful ways we engaged the community for our Ethel Jordan tree-planting effort to highlight the hallmarks of a successful project.

Over fifty stakeholders attended the evening program, designed and led by the Montgomery County Planning Commission. The agenda included: sharing green stormwater infrastructure resources; hearing green infrastructure project success stories from townships; and discussing challenges in funding and regulatory compliance. Speakers included: Judy Holton Executive Director, Montgomery County Planning Commission Alyson Elliott Assistant Manager, Cheltenham Township Andrew Oles Director of Parks & Recreation, Abington Township Susan Harris Cerulean, LLC and TTF board advisor Rosanne Mistretta Abington Friends School and TTF board President Professor Andrea L. Welker Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

“Abington Township has benefited from our strong partnership with TTF. TTF’s commitment to community engagement through planting, maintenance, and education ensures that these water quality and habitat projects are enjoyed and supported by residents of all ages.”

— Wayne C. Luker, Abington Township Board President

Tacony Creek Park Tabor Gateway Improvements

Neighbors lend a hand to spruce up the Tabor Gateway

“I walk in Tacony Creek Park at seven in the morning and I feel welcomed because I see young people and families walking with their pets. You can see how much the park has improved.”

— Maria Vásquez, Tacony Creek Park neighbor and volunteer

The gateways to Tacony Creek Park play a critical part in introducing and welcoming neighbors to this green space meandering through communities from Olney to Juniata Park. By making each gateway secure and safe, our community can feel welcome to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the park. With a grant from FEDEX through our partner Rails to Trails Conservancy, we installed a gate to prevent vehicles including trucks, cars, and ATVs from entering the park. We used funds from the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America to trim trees, install boulders, and plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Tabor Gateway’s new gate and garden