The first meeting of the Beautification committee, informally dubbed “Clean & Green” met Tuesday, August 22 at 6:30 at the Tolentine Community Center. 15 people were in attendance and discussed issues and potential projects surrounding clean up and beautification, and planned their next steps.
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Minutes from Preliminary Meeting : Clean & Green Meeting
Tuesday, August 22, 2006, 6:30 pm
Tolentine Community Center
Problems & Issues
- Trash on streets
- Major problem for neighborhood residents, fosters negative/unsafe image of neighborhood
- Collective apathy/ frustration. A few people doing a lot of work.
- Infrequent, large scale clean-ups are great but don’t last
- Trash often left out curb side too early, gets scattered
- Trash is often swept into storm drains, no awareness that trash ends up on Delaware River
- Much trash originates from commercial corridors (S. Broad St., E. Passyunk Avenue) – trash containers removed from Passyunk due to improper, personal use
- Disconnect between businesses and residents (corner stores also contribute to litter, e.g., Joe Joe’s, by not providing trash container outside)
- “No flier” house policies should be investigated
- Few green or open spaces or trees, no dog park
- Weed control is a problem, fosters unkempt image
Brain-storming Ideas
- Create a community where all neighbors pitch in to make and keep streets and sidewalks clean
- Educate residents on general blight of dropping litter – inspire and empower residents to do their part, that it does make a difference
- Facilitate “greening” of neighborhood by providing leadership on tree planting, landscaping, community gardening
- Educate residents on environmental costs & benefits of certain actions/efforts
- Coordinate with E. Passyunk Ave BID on trash, tree planting, and safety issues as the Avenue’s success is major factor in our own success
- Develop and enhance open space throughout South Philly – consider turning an empty lot into a dog park or other public use space.
Initial Focus
- Contact other area neighborhood associations – learn from them:
- How did they start? What was their initial focus?
- Have they faced community resistance? If so, how has it been addressed?
- What has worked and what has not?
- Funding sources?
- Special events
- requency, turnout, advertising, etc.
- Organize Initial Neighborhood Clean-up – McKean Street, 9th St – Broad St, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006, 10:30 am – 1 pm
- Research “Tree Planting”
- Who to work with – Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), TreeVitalize, City of Phila./ Fairmount Park Commission, Citizens Alliance, UC Green, E. Passyunk Avenue BID
- Contact/interview John C. and Rocco, landscape organizer from Mifflin Street
- Consider Pilot Tree Planting Project – March 2007
- Goal – plant 10-25 trees
- PHS is selling bare root trees for $20/tree
- Orders must be placed by Nov. 1, 2006, trees delivered in March 2007
- Investigate local interest in trees
- Encourage attendance at PHS Tree Tenders Training in Fall 2006 (free)
- 3 classes – Wednesdays, September 13, 20, 27, 5:45 – 8:45 pm
- PHS, 100 N. 20th Street
- http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/treetenders
- Think through how we can best organize Committee members to follow through on suggestions from meeting
Action Items
- Organize McKean Street Clean-up
- Contact Art (TownWatch – 215-686-3040) and Cit. Alliance for support
- Joe to provide donuts/coffee
- Inform McKean St leadership
- Contact 4th District Police
- Invite additional area leaders
- Announce Tree Tenders Training for Fall 2006 at 9/11 Meeting
- Announce Pilot Tree Planting for Spring 2007 at 9/11 Meeting
- Develop Mission Statement
- Evelina and Robert R. to draft initial ideas for discussion at next meeting
- Tim Lidiak to serve as Interim Committee Chair, until Board election
- Next Meeting – Monday, Oct. 2, 7 pm, please contact us for location (passyunkcrossing@gmail.com)
- Tim to distribute draft agenda
- Invite Tree Tenders from Passyunk Square Civic Association
