The City’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which provides residents with an environmentally friendly alternative for the disposal of live trees, has kicked off today and will run through Saturday, Jan. 13. Residents of West and Southwest Philadelphia who wish to drop off their trees to be recycled may take them to the Sanitation Convenience Centers listed below open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

• 3033 S. 63rd Street

• 5100 Grays Avenue

Residents may also drop their trees off at 13 designated locations on Saturdays, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The two locations in West Philly are:

• 54th St. and Woodbine Ave.

• 43rd St. and Powelton Ave.

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Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding West Fairmount Park have a chance to help shape the future of the park and the Centennial District. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is currently working with the Fairmount Park Conservancy, The Mann Center, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Please Touch Museum on a new planning initiative which includes improvements of the park experience for visitors and residents.

A “community-led framework for how to be more inclusive and fair in future park investments”  used in the planning process.

As the plan affects communities it needs to be developed with communities. Therefore, The Centennial Subdistrict Design Plan team is looking for paid Community Ambassadors to be a part of the process.

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Over the past year, the Friends of Clark Park has been working on a new master plan that will provide the outline for future park development and investments. Next Saturday, they will present the final draft of the plan to the community (the event has been postponed due to rain in the forecast for October 14).

Everyone who is involved with the park in any way and interested in its future, is invited to Clark Park Farmers Market at 43rd and Chester on October 21 to learn more about the plan and provide feedback.

The plan has been developed in collaboration with University City District and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s Office. Community members were also actively involved in the plan development process, with several community meetings and online surveys taking place since last year. The final draft of the Master Plan includes revisions made based on prior community feedback.

Clark Park Farmers Market operates from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and you can stop by anytime during these hours. Jamie Gauthier will also be there, according to the Friends report. For some info on why Clark Park needs a master plan and what previous master plans included, click here.

Photo courtesy of Fairmount Park Conservancy.

This month, Fairmount Park Conservancy will host three public tours in West and East Fairmount Park that highlight Philadelphia’s history, including one on Philadelphia’s role in the Underground Railroad. The tours will include hikes and interactive conversations with experts in the neighborhoods’ past.

Walking in William Still’s Steps: Guided Hike and Community Conversation will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, followed by Discover Strawberry Mansion: Neighborhood and East Park Walking Tour on October 22. The series will conclude on October 28 with Parkside Past, Parkside Present: Neighborhood and Centennial District Walking Tour.

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Instagram photo (@myphillypark).

If you like to stay active, meet new people, and have fun outdoors, this great program by the Fairmount Park Conservancy may be something you need. We Walk PHL is a free walking group that meets several times per week at various public parks. Currently, all are invited to join the group during the upcoming Fall season.

Walks begin on September 1st. Locations in West and Southwest Philly include: Carroll Park, Clark Park, Cobbs Creek Park, Malcolm X Park, Tustin Playground, Bartram’s Garden, and more. Please check the image below for additional locations and walk schedules.

We Walk PHL, which launched as a pilot program in 2017, seeks to “promote positive health outcomes, increase use of Philadelphia’s park system, and create opportunities for people to pursue fitness goals while meeting their neighbors.” It is a partnership between Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (Get Healthy Philly), and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

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The Friends of Malcolm X Park, a community organization that advocates for this historic West Philly park and organizes events and activities, is seeking volunteers who can dedicate some of their spare time to the park. It can be just a few hours or a more significant commitment – any help will be appreciated. Neighbors who are seeking to be more active in the community and interested in volunteering with the group are asked to fill out an online engagement survey.

The link to the survey is here. Volunteers of all ages, skills and abilities are welcome.

Established in 1993, Friends of Malcolm X Park has been involved in many community events, such as the Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival, Thursday Night Jazz in the Park, Love Your Park Day and other park cleanups, and more.

To learn more about the organization, visit their website, https://www.friendsofmalcolmxpark.org or follow them on Instagram.