Northeast residents
are thinking green

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

A year ago, Northeast residents gave their two cents about the state of green space in their communities.
Recently, representatives from various city departments released a status report on GreenPlan Philadelphia, a comprehensive effort to maximize open areas over the next 20 years. The meeting took place at Northeast Regional Library, Cottman Avenue and Oakland Street.
More than a dozen agencies, including the City Planning Commission, the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative (NTI) and Fairmount Park, are involved in GreenPlan. Funding for the initiative includes a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), matching dollars from the city and assistance from the William Penn Foundation.
The plan involves improving and preserving current green space and adding more where needed. According to organizers, a comprehensive agenda will give the city more credibility when seeking state or federal funding for environmental projects. The final recommendations will debut in December, but the changes will be rolled out over a 15- to 20-year period.
Its implementation will call for cooperation from groups in every community.
"What makes this different from other green plans is that it’s trying to be sustainable over time," said Eva Gladstein, head of NTI.
GreenPlan will focus on citywide improvements but will also address neighborhood-specific concerns.
In most areas of the city, partners hope to increase the tree canopy, the percentage of land covered by trees. The city contains a 15-percent canopy, which is half that of the national average. According to research, adding more trees can increase property values, decrease crime and improve storm-water management, GreenPlan organizers said. Areas identified as greening sites include sidewalks, schools and transportation corridors.
Meeting attendees broke into smaller groups and discussed waterways, trails and other areas of the plan.
In the Far Northeast, residents want improvements to recreation facilities, added police presence in parks, accessibility to current and future green spaces and better sanitation services. Specific areas mentioned included Poquessing Creek Park, Benjamin Rush State Park and Mitchell Playground.
In the rest of the Northeast, citizens called for improved lighting, new community open space and better connection to the Delaware River waterfront.
Targeted areas included Burholme and Pennypack parks and Roosevelt Mall.
Resident Jake Schlegel, who heads Castor Gardens Town Watch, likes the plan but has concerns about its feasibility.
He also thinks that there’s already some good green space in the Northeast — Pennypack Park on the Delaware, located at Rhawn Street behind the Philadelphia Prison System facilities, for instance — that remains unused.
"I think it’s a very good idea. I don’t think you’ll see it in my lifetime," he said. "What you’re going to need to make that work is a pusher who knows lots of people." ••
There’s still time to give input before the final GreenPlan recommendations are made. Visit www.greenplanphiladelphia.com for more information.
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com