Officials have revealed more details on the recently discovered water and soil contamination along the banks of the Schuylkill River in the area adjacent to Bartram’s Garden and Bartram’s Mile Trail in Southwest Philly.

The initial report on potential toxic chemical contamination as a result of a leak from a now closed industrial facility was released last month by City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, but now authorities have confirmed that the area had been contaminated with excessive levels of toxins like hexavalent chromium, arsenic, and lead. The information was presented at Wednesday’s virtual town hall meeting hosted by State Rep Regina Young and Senator Anthony Williams (read more about this here).

While authorities have been working to remediate the contamination, the affected section of the trail has been closed and riverfront and trail activities at Bartram’s Garden have been cancelled since mid-July. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Water Department, there is no threat to the public at this time, but boating, fishing and biking at Bartram’s will remain suspended until further notice.

As monitoring of the site continues, both the officials and Bartram’s staff hope that the trail will reopen soon and riverfront activities will resume. For now, please follow updates related to the contamination from Bartram’s here. Also, follow their Facebook page for updates on their programs and activities.

Free outdoor movies will return to Clark Park next month when University City District (UCD) will present three popular film screenings on Friday nights. The annual program kicks off this Friday, Aug. 2 with a screening of a Hollywood classic, Men in Black.

On Friday, Aug. 9, UCD will present last year’s summer smash, Barbie. Finally, on August 16, don’t miss the screening of the 2023 family musical, Wonka.

All movies are shown at sundown (approximately 8:15 p.m.) during fair weather and with dry ground conditions. In case a screening has to be postponed, Saturday, Aug. 17 has been reserved as rain date. Please follow UCD on X, Facebook, or Instagram for updates.

For more details on each movie, visit: https://www.universitycity.org/events/movies.

Also, don’t forget that UCD is bringing back its popular summer outdoor concert series in August. More details are here.

The Clean Air Council launched the Cobbs Creek Watershed Community Mini-grant program earlier this month to support community organizations focused on education, recreation, and stewardship inside of Cobbs Creek Park and Watershed.

With funding support from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and US Fish and Wildlife Service the Council is offering $1,000 and $2,000 dollar grants for civic groups, educators, and organizations to grow or offer new programming and activities that increase community engagement in the watershed. Activities can include but are not limited to learning opportunities, events, stewardship, workshops, and beautification efforts. Expenses could include project materials and supplies, event costs, promotional costs, stipends, staff time, or other needs.

The mini-grant application period is now open and closes Wednesday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m.

For more details and to submit your application online, use this Google form. You can also email the completed questions in the RFP to cobbscreek@cleanair.org

Former Greensgrow West site at 5123-5129 Baltimore Ave. (Archived photo)

For many years, 5123-5129 Baltimore Avenue operated as Greensgrow West – the West Philly hub of a nonprofit organization with the mission of growing fresh produce and making nutrition accessible to all Philadelphians, regardless of income. Due to unexpected financial challenges, Greensgrow closed in 2022.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s office is soliciting ideas for acquiring and reactivating 5123-29 Baltimore Avenue through an Open Call for Ideas process. They have been researching ways to maintain the space for community use, particularly by a non-profit organization as a garden, open space, recreational area, or other community-centered ideas. This process will allow the Councilmember’s office to identify a non-profit organization with an innovative, feasible, and community-centered proposal for reactivating this property. They will then work with the selected application to complete the City’s land application process.

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University City District’s popular summer concert series is set to return next month after a few years’ hiatus and will be held at two new locations. The University City Summer Series features family-friendly evenings of free entertainment at standout public spaces in the neighborhood.

This year, UCD is partnering with World Cafe Live to present two concerts – on Thursday, Aug. 15 and Thursday, Sept. 12. The August 15 concert, featuring house music mainstay Lady Alma and Vertical Current, will be held at the Lawn at uCity Square (37th and Filbert). The September 12 concert, featuring Indie pop singer/songwriter Marielle Kraft, will take place at Drexel Square (3025 Market St).

The University City Summer Series shows run from 5 – 8 p.m. DJ AfrVbz kicks things off from 5 – 6:30 p.m., and then headliners perform from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Both shows are free to attend, but RSVPs are recommended to guarantee your spot. Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Also in August, outdoor movie fans are invited to Clark Park to enjoy free weekly screenings at sundown. More info is available here.

Also, don’t forget to check on this year’s University City Dining Days, which kicks off Thursday, July 18.

Victorian vistas like this one on the 4200 block of Osage Avenue will be safeguarded going forward. (Photo by Tony West)

The Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC) unanimously approved the creation of the Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District on July 12. The boundaries of this district run generally from Spruce St. to 39th St. to Woodland Ave. to 43rd St. It will encompass three smaller districts that already exist there in addition to more than 500 surrounding houses that share a distinctive Victorian architecture.

Historic Districts define and protect the external look of period “contributing” buildings, blocking demolition except when in dangerous condition and requiring outside repairs or additions to preserve the original appearance as much as possible. They do not impact building interiors.

Most of Spruce Hill has long been in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District. This federal designation gives the neighborhood noteriety but no protection. The Spruce Hill Community Association began to push for a city historic district with enforcement power 37 years ago, but was repeatedly blocked by opposition from property owners who feared it would increase maintenance costs. That concern has been less widespread since SHCA, counseled by University City Historical Society, launched its latest bid in 2021. Many real estate developers have opposed it for decades.

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