We’re all proud of Philadelphia–with its art, culture, cheese steaks, and more. In that regard, check out these two recent articles that highlight some of the city’s other great assets: its stormwater management systems and new parks!
On the National Geographic website, author Paul McRandle reviews Philadelphia’s latest innovation in stormwater management—the Green City Clean Waters program. According to the article, Philadelphia is relying on a combination of green roofs, porous paving, curb extensions, stormwater planters, rain gardens, and rain barrels to prevent water from touching pollution and then entering the Schuylkill River, Delaware River, and other waterways. This preventive approach versus a grey water treatment program is not only more cost effective for the city, but it also encourages participation of residents and affords them potential cost savings.
From innovative to unprecedented, by July 5 the city will have opened four new parks in less than two months. As quoted in the article on PlanPhilly.com, Mark Focht, first deputy commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation said, “It’s largely a coincidence of timing,” adding that each park has been created for different reasons and by different means. “They have nothing in common, except that they in some way advance the goals put forth by Green 2015 and the city’s other open space initiatives.”
The four parks include a redesign of Logan Square’s Sister Cities Park (which we’ll have more on soon); Lardner’s Point Park and Grays Ferry Crescent can be found on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, respectively; and Hawthorne Park at 12th and Catharine streets is a no-frills space in an emerging neighborhood.
Join us in congratulating the Parks Department and Water Department for making Philadelphia an even better place to work, live, and visit!
Posted on June 29, 2012 by Barb
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