Open Space & Greening Initiative

Small Projects for Immediate Impact

WHCA and TEC-CDC recognize the importance of completing early projects with high visibility in order to foster accountability within the community and gain residents' support for revitalization projects. Therefore, WHCA and TEC-CDC have collaborated with University City District, Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Philadelphia Streets Department in order to begin renovation of a small park at 47th and Sansom Streets.

The park is used by the New Testament Church Christian Academy, located at 4730 Chestnut Street, every day during recess, and is frequented by neighborhood youth at other times of day. Prior to the renovation, the play structures' paint was chipped and faded, lighting was obscured by overhanging branches, numerous benches were missing seats and backing, weeds marred the sloping hillside that forms two sides of the park, and overgrown brush choked the tree pits of the park's numerous trees.

During the three-day renovation, Walnut Hill residents and TEC-CDC staff worked with UCD's Public Space Maintenance department to repaint the play equipment. The Streets Department pruned trees in and around the park, and the Department of Parks and Recreation evaluated the park's current state, removed broken swings, and added the park to the list of registered city parks. UCD staff and volunteers removed shrubs and weeds, placed woodchips in the tree wells, and replaced the missing seats and backs of the park benches.

In the long term, WHCA and TEC-CDC will undertake extensive rehabilitation of the park, including the installation of additional lighting, replacing the current concrete surface with a poured rubber surface, replacing the play equipment with structures that meet ASTM standards, improving park landscaping, and sponsoring a contest through which neighborhood residents will determine a name for the park. Ultimate maintenance responsibilities will fall to WHCA, which seeks to create a “Friends of the Park” group to monitor the cleanliness and safety of the park.