We need your help cleaning up one of the largest illegal dumpsites in Philadelphia This partnership of green organizations will come together to help preserve the health and beauty of Tacony Creek Park located in the lower region of Northeast Philadelphia Recently, over 4,000 tires were found illegally dumped at Tacony Creek Park Despite the hard-working efforts of the City’s sanitation workers to clear out the tires That’s why we’re asking for your help to clean up the remaining illegally dumped debris at Tacony Creek Park Tacony Creek Park is the only publicly accessible section of Tacony Creek within the Philadelphia portion of the watershed The woodlands of Tacony Creek Park provide a stable habitat for over 100 species of birds and other wildlife It’s up to us to sustain Tacony Creek Park as it’s meant to be: a beautiful green space open to the public and home to diverse communities Volunteers will promptly meet at the Adams Avenue section of Tacony Creek Park at 9:00 a.m After the cleanup, volunteers will have the chance to win sustainable United By Blue merchandise, as well as enjoy free dumplings from the Humpty’s Dumplings Food Truck green organizations across Philadelphia will be present to inform volunteers how they can continue to stay involved in making our city cleaner the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) will partner with United by B.. PWD has launched a Quarterly Construction Newsletter to keep residents informed about construction projects in their City Council District making a difference everyday and doing extraordinary things in their careers Get our notifications and updates every week Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardSomeone illegally dumped 4,000 tires into Tacony Creek Park It will take a human chain of 100 to clear The city is working with the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership and United by Blue to remove the illegally dumped tires They severed the lock on a SEPTA gate and swapped it with one of their own for easy Over consecutive nights, or weeks, they maneuvered in a vehicle, hurling thousands of tires into a ravine at Tacony Creek Park — and transformed part of the widely used park into a clandestine dump Tire dumping has plagued Philly for years. In 2023, a dredging operation on the Schuylkill was abandoned after a contractor yanked 3,000 tires from the river and refused to continue volunteer park cleanouts often reveal tens or hundreds of tires But the scale of this dump is shocking to people familiar with dumping and stretching at least 100 feet long off Newtown and Adams Avenues Estimates of the number of tires run to 4,000 The exact amount is difficult to pinpoint because they overlap and the pile is many tires deep in some places Now comes the big job: Getting them out with a human chain of at least 100 volunteers because there is no easy access “This is by far the largest I’ve seen in my 20 years of working in the public space and city government,” said Justin DiBerardinis, executive director of the nonprofit Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) “And talking to folks who’ve spent their whole careers in [Philly] Parks and Rec this the biggest pile of tires in the Philadelphia park system that anyone can remember.” A Parks and Recreation worker and TTF volunteer first discovered the massive tire dump around Thanksgiving But the scale demanded a strategic removal plan The tires became waterlogged as winter took hold They became entombed in layers of ice and snow further complicating their extraction until spring Officials suspect they were abandoned by a contractor hired to haul tires from auto and tire shops who opted to dump them illegally rather than pay steep tipping fees at a proper recycling or disposal facility Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration coordinated on a plan with multiple agencies, TTF, and United by Blue a Philly-based sustainable clothing retailer that organizes cleanups around the country sustainability director for Parks and Recreation on April 5 and will require both volunteers and city workers because of the scale of work required It will involve the Philadelphia Water Department workers began removing tires last week because there were so many Walker said the tires will be disposed of by a contracted hauler The city will close off Adams Avenue as volunteers fan out along the park It has woods and meadows that provide habitat for more than 100 species of birds and other wildlife A 3.2-mile paved trail runs along the creek, part of The Circuit Trails regional trail network The portion of the park along Adams Avenue has been vulnerable to dumping for years “It’s a place that is commonly hit with illegal tire dumping and our teams work really hard to try to clean those materials out,” Walker said this dump is one of the largest ones we’ve ever seen in the park We estimated there are thousands of tires so it’s just a lot for our staff to do on our own Walker called the city’s parks a “hot bed” for illegal dumpers “These are beautiful protected spaces that don’t have a lot of car traffic coming in,” Walker said “It’s an easy place for folks to sneak in and dump.” “One of the most impacted areas in the 9th District is Newtown Avenue better known as Snake Road in the Lawncrest neighborhood.” large scale illegal dumping” that draws complaints by neighbors Volunteers are continually called on to clean up areas along the road Phillips said the city spends $48 million a year on cleanups director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives said the city currently has 300 video cameras installed to try to catch dumpers “This is in addition to the work that we’ve done with the police department,” Williams testified at the hearing “We will expand the number of cameras by 100 this year to other locations and hold illegal dumpers accountable.” Some of the cameras being installed along trails will have night vision Parks and Recreation has issued fines totaling more than a million dollars against dumpers it’s unclear how much they end up paying after court hearings director of impact and sustainability for United by Blue said the company has a database of two million volunteers across the U.S She’s already drawn on those with Philly-area connections to assist with the cleanout “We have a large network of folks who are interested in helping remove debris from their communities,” Weinhold said “This will be a really cool event to witness.” This story was corrected to state that it was Councilmember Anthony Phillips who spoke during a Committee on Streets and Services hearing Please Support Continuous Local Covid-19 Coverage on Glenside Local Tacony Creek Park, located near the Olney section of Philadelphia, is again home to an estimated 4,000 discarded tires. An outfit of roughly 100 volunteers and city workers are hoping to get rid of the pile this spring, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the tire dumpers “severed the lock on a SEPTA gate and swapped it with one of their own for easy hurling thousands of tires into a ravine at Tacony Creek Park — and transformed part of the widely used park into a clandestine dump.” The trail of tires “comes within feet of the creek” and measures some 30 feet deep in some spots and stretches at least 100 feet long off Newtown and Adams avenues Tacony (also spelled Tookany) Creek flows through Glenside will haul the tires out on sleds and then a contracted hauler will dispose of them The cleanup is scheduled for 9:00am on April 5 “This is by far the largest I’ve seen in my 20 years of working in the public space and city government,” said Justin DiBerardinis, executive director of the nonprofit Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) The source of the tires “remains a mystery” and was discovered by officials in November 2024 “Officials suspect they were abandoned by a contractor hired to haul tires from auto and tire shops who opted to dump them illegally rather than pay steep tipping fees at a proper recycling or disposal facility,” The Inquirer said For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here 2025Watch the 6abc Philadelphia 24/7 stream featuring Action News AccuWeather and EntertainmentPHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating after human remains were found in Philadelphia's Wissinoming section Officers were called to the 5700 block of Tacony Street around 11:50 a.m on Tuesday after a man's body was found on the shoreline of the Delaware River No other information has been released at this time Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA muddy army of volunteers helps clean up Philly’s biggest tire dump Some 200 volunteers converged in Tacony Creek Park Saturday morning to help clean up thousands of used tires sloshing stagnant water all over their pants Wherever used tires are dumped by a waterway or piled high in urban dead-ends from his home near Baltimore to Tacony Creek Park in the Crescentville section of Philadelphia to participate in a major tire cleanup sponsored by the city and several nonprofits The disposal and recycling of used tires is a worldwide conundrum cleaning them up has become a bit of an obsession He has visited over 2,000 counties in pursuit of them “I’d say I personally have handled about 10,000 tires,” he said It’s a mind-boggling number considering how daunting the 2,200 tires dumped near Tacony Creek looked Saturday The pile was even larger when it was first discovered last year rubber river for about 100 feet before a crew of 200-plus volunteers like a human chain,” one volunteer shouted on the steep sloshing stagnant water all over their pants and rolling the tires up a hill toward idling city sanitation trucks Squirrels and chipmunks scattered out from underneath “It feels good to get dirty for a good cause,” said volunteer Desiree Riley, of the nonprofit Mastermind Cooperative While Philly and other cities have been plagued with tire dumping for as long as there have been cars nonprofits said the dump at Tacony Creek was the largest they had ever seen here The dump is downhill from a stone access road for SEPTA rail lines Officials say the culprits actually replaced the lock with one of their own and simply dumped them from the back of a truck is disappointed the city did not catch the dumpers via camera systems Officials believe a contractor likely opted to dump the tires illegally rather than pay fees at a proper recycling or disposal facility “This is a business and it’s a huge exploitation They made repeated trips here,” Hersh said The city has installed more than 300 cameras in an effort to combat illegal dumping of tires and construction debris, with plans to add 100 more. Justin DiBerardinis, executive director of the nonprofit Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership said he would like to see some more clandestine “trail-cam” cameras which can be attached to trees and camouflaged hoofing the tires uphill by hand to the sanitation trucks Each sanitation truck could hold anywhere from 300 to 500 tires The tires would likely be heading to a waste processor in Conshohocken or the Covanta trash incinerator in Chester “It costs a lot of money and takes a lot of man-hours to do this a watershed manager for the Philadelphia Water Department Councilmember Anthony Phillips who was on scene and rolling tires Saturday morning said the city spent $48 million a year on cleanups with the bulk of the money used for removal These unused tires often pile up in urban areas posing a risk of fire that can release toxic smoke A tire fire closed I-95 in Philadelphia in 1996 The tires can slowly leach chemicals into waterways as well and are notorious mosquito breeding sites Shredded tires have even been a fuel source burned at high temperatures to produce power at cement plants The Environmental Protection Agency said that’s preferable to stockpiling them “It is better to recover the energy from a tire rather than landfill it,” the agency wrote muddy crowd as all the tires had been moved up the hill and sat You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience For over a decade, the Storefront Improvement Program has helped hundreds of Philadelphia businesses improve their storefronts and shine with eligible improvements we aim to drive equitable neighborhood revitalization that contributes to vibrant commercial corridors citywide where businesses can operate and actualize their dreams The program can reimburse up to 50 percent of the cost of eligible improvements to a maximum of $10,000 for a single commercial property, or up to $15,000 for a multiple-address or corner business property. The Storefront Improvement Program is a program of the Department of Commerce Hear from Xhulio Binjaku (XH), the Director of Tacony Community Development Corporation (CDC), a non-profit located in Northeast Philadelphia about how they help local businesses in the areas that they serve apply for the Storefront Improvement Program: Tell us about your Community Development Corporation (CDC) and the services you provide to the community XH: The Tacony Community Development Corporation (CDC) works to enhance the area’s economic development Founded 20 years ago as a volunteer-led organization the Tacony CDC has remained committed to revitalizing the neighborhood through events We offer various services that attract new businesses including one-on-one consultations and advocating for business owners to take advantage of programs like the Storefront Improvement Program and other city initiatives that help them grow we host events along the corridor—such as pop-ups and social media campaigns—encouraging more people to visit and shop Our long-term projects include historic preservation studies and environmental justice plans that provide lasting benefits to the community How many people does your Community Development Corporation (CDC) employ XH: Our CDC currently has a small but dedicated team of two staff members: myself as the Executive Director and our fantastic Corridor Manager What does having a CDC in Philadelphia mean to you XH: Each neighborhood has its specific challenges that CDCs aim to help address Tacony is a neighborhood with families and history Tacony CDC as an organization is transforming Torresdale Avenue into Storydale Avenue as part of a collaborative project We’re collaborating with the artist Mat Tomezsko to collect stories from neighbors and paint those stories on panels that will be on display inside and outside of businesses on the corridor The neighborhood has a long and grand history of being a utopian factory town from the 1880s but I like learning about the small oral histories of everyday people too How did your CDC assist businesses in applying for the Storefront Improvement Program (SIP) XH: We guide businesses through every step of the Storefront Improvement Program (SIP) process we spread the word about SIP to the Tacony area we work closely with business owners to navigate the application process ensuring they understand the program’s full scope we assist in managing the project to completion including helping with financing and other necessary resources What do you like about the commercial area where you are located XH: What I love about the commercial area is the positive change we are experiencing More people are showing interest in local food and retail options and there’s a growing preference for shopping locally rather than traveling outside the neighborhood community-focused atmosphere where businesses can thrive What would you want your customers to know and feel when they enter your CDC XH: We’re in the back of the Tacony Music Hall which was the music hall for the factory town built in the high Victorian style It is historically preserved and was meticulously updated by Lou Latrola How has the Storefront Improvement Program impacted the businesses in your neighborhood XH: The Storefront Improvement Program has had a significant impact on businesses in our neighborhood Most of the businesses who’ve done SIP are the ones who end up staying in the neighborhood This is especially true for retail and restaurants Improving your storefront can increase your chances of remaining open for longer A well-designed storefront can greatly increase a business’s chances of long-term success by attracting both new and returning customers these improvements enhance the entire commercial corridor Programs like this are also a great introduction to other city services for business owners Completing this program can be a gateway to other impactful projects and a chance to meet the individuals and organizations who are dedicated to ensuring that small businesses do well What would you say to a business owner interested in improving their storefronts XH: I would say that it’s my job to help you help the neighborhood with your business. The SIP program is a special one, but we also help with other programs including the Business Security Camera Program We learned that each business is on a journey so we meet each business where they are and help them where they want to go Why do you think it is important to improve storefronts XH: The storefront is a business owner’s chance to leave a positive first impression on customers It’s the invitation to come in and see what you have to offer and also a reflection of the rest of the business corridor Our design guidelines and standards are key to having a successful and beautiful storefront and windows should always be free from clutter to have the best retail viewing experience Business owners need to remember that people always shop outside first before they come in to buy a product or service Bread Crumbs Bakery was a success because they understood the design guidelines and we worked closely together to make the facade look so charming What impact does the program have on your business corridor What difference(s) have you seen since the improvements have been finalized XH: The Storefront Improvement program is one of the most important programs that can help a business improve the look and feel of our commercial corridor It removes barriers that prevent business owners from creating the look that they want for their location and it creates an inviting atmosphere for the entire street they get excited to visit that store and support it We’ve also noticed that when other business owners see a successful project and hear how much support they can get for it it encourages them to make steps towards improving their own location One successful project can build momentum for an entire block which in turn will positively impact the economic vitality of the entire neighborhood What advice would you give to a business owner interested in the SIP XH: I have two pieces of advice.  First, while the process might seem overwhelming at the beginning, you’ll only need to provide some key information, like your commercial activity license and EIN don’t worry—your local CDC and Commerce representatives are here to guide you and help you gather what’s needed We’re here to support you every step of the way and help your business thrive understanding the guidelines is beneficial and important One of the biggest successes for Bread Crumbs Bakery as an example is that they understood the design guidelines and worked with the Tacony CDC to design their façade like see-through security grates or specific color choices that can seem like a lot of unnecessary detail but these design guidelines are based on best practices that will attract people to your business and protect your safety Why do you think improving storefronts is important for the community or just pause as they walk by to take a look at something new on the corridor I wish more things like this happened.” That’s exactly what we want to make people feel proud of their neighborhood there’s been a lot of disinvestments over the years But projects like this are a sign of real investment and it shows what good things can happen when we put resources into our communities Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with the SIP XH: The Experience with the Department of Commerce and the SIP Manager has been wonderful We see the Department of Commerce as a key partner Yours could be next! We’re here to assist. The Mayor’s Business Action Team (MBAT) in the Department of Commerce is a concierge service providing personalized assistance in multiple languages to business owners or all aspects of doing business in Philadelphia Business Services Managers are City liaisons providing entrepreneurs access to information through in-person outreach and customized virtual services Contact us by emailing business@phila.gov or calling 215-683-2100 police released the names of the people who died on Thursday in an apparent murder suicide situation in Duluth were found on the 6000 block of Tacony Street were found on the 4400 block of W 6th Street The suspect has been identified as 46-year-old Anthony Nephew There is a growing pile of toys for Oliver outside the 6th Street home Neighbors and friends were dropping things off on Friday The department said their thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families friends and loved ones involved in this tragic event Chief Mike Ceynowa said they are still investigating but believe Anthony Nephew had mental health issues Police are using cell phone data to try and piece together the events but we’re also going to make sure that we support those families and support our public safety team.” Lake Superior College sent a statement about Kathryn Ramsland “Kat was a cherished member of the Lake Superior College Art Department She was a passionate educator and esteemed colleague who left a lasting impact on her students and all who had the privilege of knowing her This tragic loss is deeply felt across our campus community and we extend our condolences to her family Counseling and support services are available to our LSC community.” The Duluth Schools sent a statement about Oliver there was a significant tragedy in our community Thursday It is with profound sorrow that we inform you of the tragic death of Oliver Nephew a first-grade student at Rockridge Academy Oliver’s passing is a devastating loss for our entire community Our hearts go out to his family and friends and we extend our deepest condolences to them during this unimaginably difficult time We also recognize the impact this tragedy has on our broader school community and are here to support all those affected by this heartbreaking loss We understand that this news may be especially challenging for our students and families Children may experience a range of emotions in response to this loss and we want to assure you that we are here to provide support Our crisis team has been mobilized to assist students If your child is struggling with this news or needs someone to talk to please reach out to your school’s mental health professional We also encourage you to contact your school’s principal or counselor if you have any questions or concerns We know that the healing process will take time and we are committed to providing our students and families with the resources and support they need in the days and weeks ahead.” Director of Advancement at Marshall School issued this statement about the tragedy Jacob’s impact throughout our school community was profound and his gifts were many Jacob was recently honored as part of the UMD Honor Orchestra He has been an important part of our Knowledge Bowl Team Chess Club and Environmental Advocacy Club Jacob will be missed dearly by our entire community and families understand and cope with this tragedy Superior Mayor Jim Paine said that Abramson worked for their environmental services division “She dedicated her life and her to work to protecting public health in Superior and the Northwoods of Wisconsin and to protecting the health of Lake Superior,” Paine said It was one of her coworkers who called for the welfare check police responded to a check welfare call at around 2:10 pm and arrived at the first residence located in the 6000 block of Tacony Street Police then identified a suspect in the death investigation and set up a perimeter at the suspect’s residence located on the 4400 block of West 6th Street officers found the suspect deceased with a self-inflicted gunshot wound Officers also found the body of another female Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Vicki Kaping at vkaping@wdio.com or (218) 727-6864 CAMDEN — South Jersey motorists will see tolls rise soon on four bridges across the Delaware River The one-dollar increase to $6 is to take effect Sept Commissioners of the Delaware River Port Authority voted unanimously for the increase at a July 17 meeting More: Happy trails: Burlington County has good shot at $6M That followed a decision earlier this month to reduce a proposed increase of $1.50 doesn't affect fares for the DRPA's PATCO Hi-Speedline It also has no impact on cash tolls of $4 for the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol bridges which are run by a Burlington County commission And it does not affect the $5 cash toll on the Delaware Memorial Bridge between South Jersey and Delaware which is operated by a separate bi-state authority The DRPA initially was considering a higher toll of $6.50 a 30 percent increase based on the consumer price index for the Philadelphia area But the board's finance committee proposed the reduction on July 10 It attributed that reduction to "consideration of the burden that an approximately 30 percent increase in tolls might impose upon the commuting public." The full board approved that 20 percent increase at its July 17 meeting "We've been fiscally responsible," the DRPA's Chief Executive Officer John Hanson said about raising the toll at a lesser rate than inflation In the past 13 years since the last toll increase the DRPA has invested $1.9 billion into capital improvements and paid off $700 million in debt aiding in the decision to trim the increase What will toll money be used for?"We want to make sure that our bridges are safe," DRPA Chairman James Schultz affirmed Money from the toll increase will be used to bolster the bridge's police department which Schultz explained is at 120 officers when it should have 150 He also noted the importance of keeping commuters safe in light of the Baltimore bridge collapse that occurred in March More: Interactive map shows rating for Camden, Gloucester county bridges Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardSearch continues for man missing in Delaware River near Tacony police saidThe man had been riding a jet ski before he went underwater Friday afternoon and never resurfaced The search continued Saturday for a man who went missing Friday afternoon in the Delaware River near Philadelphia’s Tacony section police responded to a call alerting them about a man in the river by Princeton Avenue and State Road The man is believed to be in his late 20s to early 30s and was last seen in the water by a witness According to CBS the man was riding a jet ski when he went underwater and didn’t resurface The Philadelphia Police Marine Unit and Fire Department have been searching the area ever since This is a developing story and will be updated Woman hospitalized after being shot in the face in TaconyPHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A woman is in critical but stable condition after being shot in the face It happened on the 4700 block of Longshore Avenue in Tacony just before 1 a.m The victim was initially taken to Nazareth Hospital by a private vehicle and then transported to Temple University Hospital by an ambulance 2024The victim was riding an electric motorized scooter at Ditman and Levick Streets when he was fatally shot.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man is dead after being shot in a drive-by shooting in Philadelphia's Tacony neighborhood Police say a 19-year-old was fatally shot just three blocks away from his home The victim was riding an electric motorized scooter at Ditman and Levick streets when he was shot All police know about the shooting is that the gunfire came from the passenger side of a dark-colored sedan 20242 men found stabbed at 7-Eleven store in PhiladelphiaPHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police are investigating a double stabbing that took place in Philadelphia's Tacony neighborhood Saturday night at a 7-Eleven store along Torresdale Avenue officers said they found two men suffering from stab wounds A 30-year-old man was stabbed multiple times in the stomach and leg while a 70-year-old man suffered stab wounds to the arm and hands A young girl holds up the fish she caught at one of Parks & Rec's free learn to fish programs Please note: events may be canceled or postponed due to bad weather Be sure to check the links below to confirm date Bartram’s Garden hosts weekly free catch-and-release fishing in the spring and summer. Come borrow a rod and tackle from the Welcome Center. Supplies are limited. No experience is necessary. No fishing license is required. See more details on their website Discovery Pathways offers free family fishing on Wednesday nights during the summer. Rods, tackle, bait, and basic instruction are provided. All ages are welcome. Learn more on their website The Fish Hatchery hosts a free fishing program for kids under 16 years of age. Rods, bait, and basic instruction provided. Catch-and-release fishing. See more details 2024 – Reconstruction of the southbound lanes (Stage 2) of Interstate 95 at the Bridge Street Interchange in Northeast Philadelphia gets underway this spring as utility and drainage work continue on surface streets surrounding the interchange With the retaining wall in place along the northbound side of I-95 south of the interchange (see below) and embankment supports in place along Tacony Street north of Bridge Street temporary paving will be placed through the work zone prior to a traffic shift that will move six lanes of I-95 traffic to the east between Margaret and Carver streets The shift this spring will free the southbound lanes through the work zone allowing PennDOT’s contractor to begin rebuilding that side of the interstate The temporary traffic pattern will remain in place for the duration of the project When southbound reconstruction is completed the traffic pattern will shift to the west side of the work area for reconstruction of the northbound side of I-95 During Stage 2 reconstruction of the southbound I-95 pavement: The southbound off-ramp to James Street will remain open until May when it will be closed for reconstruction of the southbound side of the interchange A new southbound off-ramp will then be constructed in its place that will pass under I-95 to a new signalized interchange complex on Tacony Street north of Bridge Street That new intersection will also accommodate a new northbound on-ramp that will be built during the next stage of the BS2 project The existing northbound on-ramp from Bridge Street will remain open until the new on-ramp is in place The original northbound I-95 off-ramp to Bridge Street (Exit 27) was permanently closed in April 2023 for construction at the interchange Off-ramp traffic is now exiting at the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange and following Aramingo Avenue north back to Bridge Street traffic heading for Bridge Street will detour to the Aramingo Avenue exit at the adjacent Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange and follow Aramingo Avenue north back to Bridge Street A significant part of I-95 reconstruction at the interchange includes replacement of the existing viaduct over Bridge and Tacony streets Work has been underway since last fall on the new southbound section of the span with support piers in place adjacent to I-95 along Aramingo Avenue (see right Section BS2 will reconstruct I-95 between Margaret Street and Carver Street and replace the bridge over Fraley Street The Carver Street overpass will be replaced by a new bridge over the new southbound off-ramp that will replace the James Street off-ramp A new on-ramp to I-95 north will be built at the Tacony Street interchange three travel lanes in each direction will remain open during peak travel times though periodic off-peak lane closures may be in place on I-95 during certain stages of construction operations a number of different traffic patterns will be in place on the surface streets at the interchange (Bridge Street Section BS2 is scheduled to be completed in late 2026 Click here for current travel alerts Click here for construction update Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardFamily remembers Ernest Harmon-Tague 9-year-old who drowned in Tacony CreekDozens gathered for a balloon launch in his memory as police continue to investigate what led to his death Balloons filled the skies above Frankford on Saturday as dozens of family and friends gathered to memorialize Ernest “Ernie” Harmon-Tague, a 9-year-old boy who drowned in Tacony Creek last Sunday The balloon release marked the end of a painful and grief-filled week for the child’s family who are now left with just memories of a boy who was by all accounts warm who milled on the block outside the family’s home for more than two hours on Saturday and bundles of red and green balloons to her front porch “I appreciate everyone coming out for my son,” Harmon said before the crowd released the balloons to cries of “We love you The event was marred by uncertainty around the boy’s death as police are still investigating how he ended up in the creek and the medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death Harmon said her son had left the house to go around the corner on Sunday two boys who had been with him at the creek came running to her house and told her that he had drowned He was found by medics shortly after 6 p.m where he was pronounced dead shortly before 7:30 p.m Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said police are still investigating how the boy ended up in the water He was with a group of other children near the creek that afternoon to identify and locate the children who were there A spokesperson for the Department of Public Health told The Inquirer on Friday that the official cause of death was still pending he would use his allowance to buy her flowers at the corner store Ernie dreamed of growing up to be a professional football player either playing wide receiver or running back And he already knew what he was going to do with the money from his first contract Ernie had recently started practice with a local football team and was planning to play his first game on June 24 where Harmon said Ernie attended services more than five days a week He often went to the church’s Spanish language services who taught Ernie every Tuesday night at the church and led vigil participants in a prayer before the balloon release wore a shirt she had made with a photo of Ernie Videos were passed around of Ernie racing go-karts with his older brother eating chicken nuggets at a bowling alley with his friends and praying before his evening classes at church Neighbors recalled how he knew the name of everyone on his block said the boy would always wait up for him to get home from work “Ernie was the life of everything,” Moye said Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this article by | Sep 13, 2022 | News | 0 comments Last week the Burlington County Bridge Commission restored 24-hour sidewalk access to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge The narrow walkway on the north side of the bridge has served as Philadelphia’s only nighttime bicycle and pedestrian link to New Jersey for decades in March 2020 NJ Governor Phil Murphy issued an executive order that established a statewide voluntary curfew between 8 PM and 5 AM The Bridge Commission decided to close the walkway during those hours and the policy remained in effect until September 2nd of this year Unlike the Ben Franklin Bridge the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge has no transit alternative If you were stuck on the Philadelphia side of the bridge Option 1 was to summon an Uber or Lyft This is not an option for people with bikes or those without a credit card Option 2 was to take a bus to the Market Frankford El and transfer to the PATCO High-Speed Line at 8th and Market to Camden Once in Camden you would have to wait up to hour board the 419 bus to Palmyra (the RiverLINE ends service at 9PM) This convoluted route can take more than three hours and requires three separate fare instruments On behalf of the Bicycle Coalition and the Circuit Trails Coalition we want to thank Director Andle and Commissioners Riggins Nunes and Tiver for restoring this critical bicycle and pedestrian link to New Jersey Thanks to the County Action Team volunteers Ted Zellers James Griffin and Jonathan Reuther for taking the time and laying out the case for restoring full access to the sidewalk We expect in the next few years bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the bridge will increase significantly with the anticipated completion of the Delaware Riverfront Trail and bike/ped safety improvements on the Philadelphia side We also want to remind users to walk their bicycles on the bridge sidewalk there is only a low concrete retaining wall between you and speeding truck traffic The bridge is also a drawbridge and periodically closes for marine traffic a few times a day 1500 Walnut St # 1107 | Philadelphia, PA 19102 | 215-BICYCLEThe Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization Join Us: Become a Member! exploring and enjoying the best multiuse trails nationwide Explore top 10 trails blogs for all 50 U.S Search By State The Great American Rail-Trail® is the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail stretching more than 3,700 miles between Washington we reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk Join RTC's learning community where professionals volunteers and public leaders come together to share proven tools and methods to establish and grow trail networks nationwide RTC has worked to bring the power of trails to more communities across the country serving as the national voice for the rail-trail movement We’re working to ensure that trails and trail networks are prioritized as essential for people and places Learn more about our strategic priorities the executive director for Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership Philadelphia is tucked between two major rivers, the Delaware to the east and the Schuylkill to the west; between them, Tacony Creek—a tributary of the Delaware—runs its course through the city’s northeast neighborhoods. In this densely populated pocket, the 3.2-mile Tacony Creek Trail flows along the waterway under the hush of tall old-growth trees “I love having someplace that’s right smack in the city that gets you away from the traffic lights and noise so it’s almost like being out in the country,” enthused Lisa Kuzma a longtime local resident and director of Olney Christian School the executive director for Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) notes that more than 100 species of birds can be found including the commonly spotted great blue herons and red-tailed hawks This wildlife-rich environment—the watershed—is integral to the trail experience and the trail in turn presents the opportunity to learn about its value “We know that trails are important because they get people next to water,” explained Slavet “Once people get on a trail and get next to water it’s much easier to talk to them about stormwater management and runoff and being good water stewards.” The inviting presence of the trail coupled with the community events and educational programming that TTF provides have made noticeable changes in the creek over time “The creek used to be so disgusting and that was part of not wanting to use the park,” said Kuzma “There were grocery carts and people just dumping in there and it smelled to high heaven all the time the water’s clear and you can see to the bottom—it’s a nice little trickling brook Philadelphia’s trails and transportation program manager remembers the massive cleanup of the creek that took place as the trail’s first four gateways were being established all of our creeks feed into our drinking water It was also unsightly for citizens that wanted to use the park We knew that we had to reactivate that space.” Surrounding the 300-acre park are working-class neighborhoods and large communities of immigrants in one of the most culturally diverse areas of the city In addition to the focus on the water itself ensuring access the watershed’s green space in this disadvantaged and urbanized area was especially important “These neighborhoods are among the most challenged ZIP codes in Philadelphia,” said Slavet “The 19120 and 19124 codes are predominantly Spanish speaking and have challenges in terms of resources and income.” TTF—which was launched by the Philadelphia Water Department in 2000—offers a variety of opportunities for residents to engage with and become better stewards of the park running groups and many other types of programming—including bilingual activities—are part of continuing efforts to forge these connections and create a positive space for the community have been critical for supporting this work The Tacony Creek Trail also played a key role in uniting the upper and lower halves of the park creating a continuous route from one end to the other that could increase usage for both recreation and transportation “It’s one of the most dangerous highways in the United States Citizens north of the boulevard had access to an existing trail that was built in the 1970s we realized that the lower portion of the trail—below the boulevard—should be focused on first and then the connection that needed to be made underneath the boulevard would be built to join the two sections.” As the two new segments of trail opened in 2013 and 2018 “Being able to go under the boulevard is huge in terms of increasing use and making it safer Crossing the boulevard before was like taking your life in your hands.” The Tacony Creek Trail is also now on the cusp of expanding its reach in both directions and is fitting into larger systems that amplify its value a planned extension will connect Philadelphia County to its northern neighbor we received approval for a feasibility study to take this trail into Montgomery County; it would add another 3 miles,” said Slavet “We knew how important that would be for the citizens of Cheltenham There isn’t a lot of pedestrian and bike access in the township so residents there really expressed an interest in making their community more walkable and bikeable.” a regional network encompassing 800 miles of trails in Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey What do a butterfly, a fox and a turtle have in common? These critters were all painted by local artist Jay Coreano on the trail’s pavement as part of a “Love Our Park” community project. Large bird murals, designed by the nonprofit Visual Urban Renewal & Transformation also brighten the walls of the trail’s underpasses and celebrate the wildlife to be found here “I was born and raised in this area and I had never been there,” said Coreano “These paintings are bringing awareness to the trail and awareness of the accessibility we have to nature and the escape that we have literally at our backyards.” Another art project that Coreano oversaw—not in the park but rather leading up to it—offered a creative approach both to combatting litter and providing wayfinding The lids of nearly two dozen trash cans that line Cayuga Street were painted with whimsical designs by local families and serve as visual breadcrumbs leading from the park to the nearby recreation center “That was one of the first times that I’d really seen my community show up for a greater cause,” said Coreano “When it’s something that has to deal with our home and our community Coreano says he has been receiving quite a bit of positive feedback on the art and looks forward to exploring the park and trail more himself “I’m just now taking advantage of it because I really wasn’t aware of it before,” he noted Name: Tacony Creek Trail Trail website: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Start point/end point: The Tacony Park Creek Trail runs from Ramona Avenue and I Street to just north of Adams Avenue and Crescentville Road in northeastern Philadelphia bicycling and inline skating; wheelchair accessible relatively short distance and easy access to the surrounding neighborhoods makes it a family-friendly route Access and parking: While there are no official parking areas for the Tacony Creek Trail parking may be available on adjacent local streets Visitors should be sure to obey any posted parking restrictions Access to the trail is available from four main neighborhood gateways (from south to north): Ramona and I streets; East Fisher’s Lane; Whitaker Avenue; and Roosevelt Boulevard at Bingham Street As no restrooms or drinking fountains are available along the route To navigate the area with an interactive GIS map, and to see more photos, user reviews and ratings, plus loads of other trip-planning information, visit TrailLink.com Rentals: Although the city does offer more than 120 Indego bike-share stations note that they are largely concentrated in the heart of the city so the closest station is about 4 miles from the southern end of the Tacony Creek Trail Laura Stark is the senior editor for Rails to Trails Conservancy responsible for highlighting trails and the people working hard to support them across America Everyone deserves access to safe ways to walk Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published in the Fall 2022 issue of Extant a publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia former executive director of the Tacony Community Development Corporation talks about Tacony’s transformation over the past decade he throws around terms like “unsexy preservation,” “preservation light,” “street preservation” and “soft preservation.” His reflexive dilution of the term is telling: By focusing on making practical improvements to older Tacony CDC has helped residents skillfully leverage a wide range of existing city programs–allowing for flexibility when it comes to making improvements affordable and feasible–and helped the community coalesce around a shared vision for the future “This really was a Main Street-led vision of neighborhood revitalization,” says Balloon who became Tacony CDC’s first executive director in 2012 when Tacony CDC embarked on the Tacony Historic Revitalization Project the neighborhood was still struggling to rebound from the recession and foreclosure crisis “We were starting from a place that required a lot of hard work,” says Balloon The project’s focus on reviving the Torresdale Avenue commercial corridor paid off “Tacony is a very different place than it was 10 years ago.” “Paradise for the Working Man” | Image courtesy of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The Saw Works included not just the manufacturing plant but also the expansive Disston Estate–390 acres of land developed by Henry Disston as his utopian vision of “paradise for the working man of moderate means.” More industrial enterprises followed suit The area became a magnet for manufacturing thanks to its convenient location near the railroad the statue of William Penn that tops City Hall was cast at the Tacony Iron and Metal Company Workers making saws at Henry Disston & Sons circa 1910 Tacony developed with quality public amenities in mind: Disston Estates consisted of sturdy homes that were rented to workers churches that catered to a broad range of denominations This basic infrastructure–particularly the library’s location along Torresdale Avenue–was not only an important factor in Tacony’s success through the 19th and early 20th centuries but also key to the current revitalization “We were very strategically located when we were constructed in 1906,” says Suzin Weber manager of the Tacony Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia Tacony saw some fluctuation and decline post-World War II as manufacturing jobs dwindled and people migrated out to the suburbs it is a great example of what sociologists call a “middle neighborhood,” areas that are neither experiencing rapid growth and appreciation nor decline Middle neighborhoods typically have a mix of housing stock that offers relatively affordable and stable housing options from apartments to single-family homes and good access to public transit They also tend to be racially and socioeconomically diverse a Philadelphia native who now runs an urban development consulting firm has spent his career studying issues related to economic development in formerly industrial cities and in 2016 edited a book on his findings On the Edge: America’s Middle Neighborhoods and Mayfair as some of Philadelphia’s quintessential “middle neighborhoods.” A back to school block party on Torresdale Avenue working-class neighborhood even as the efforts of Tacony CDC have really started paying dividends more than 300 homes in the neighborhood have been rehabilitated since the 2009 recession many now owned by families new to the area who value the beautiful homes The Main Street Approach employed in Tacony is a model promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that started in the 1970s a holistic approach to revitalization that’s tailored by each individual community–from one-to two-block-long Main streets that serve as centers for small rural towns to neighborhood commercial corridors in large cities The National Main Street Four Point Approach emphasizes using economic incentives and financial tools stimulating promotion and community engagement and organizing existing entities or community groups around common goals The approach has been a natural fit for Tacony DeNofa’s Italian Deli’s facade was removed with financial assistance from the City’s Storefront Improvement Program the vacancy rate on Torresdale Avenue was pushing north of 30 percent,” says Balloon while “today it’s about zero.” A large percentage of the businesses on the avenue are local and install more than 150 security cameras The Tacony CDC helps maintain the corridor with trash pickup and street cleaning by contracting with Ready a local nonprofit that employs formerly homeless and returning citizens number of neighborhood businesses are beneficiaries of the Philadelphia Commerce Department’s Storefront Improvement Program including Marie Huff Hairdressing at Torresdale Avenue and Disston Street Georgeanne Huff-Labovitz has lived in Tacony for 57 years and is the owner of the Torresdale Avenue mainstay Marie Huff Salon She’s the president of Tacony CDC’s board of directors and has been an all-around champion for Tacony for decades She’s the fourth generation of an Italian immigrant family and says while Tacony has many multigenerational households “We’ve always been a diverse neighborhood,” she says “We always try to treat everybody like they’ve been here forever.” Huff-Labovitz was able to use a storefront improvement loan for new signage after hers was damaged during the Philadelphia Gas Works explosion in 2011 New exterior lighting provided through another grant now illuminates the fresco mural that graces the side of her building created by artist Mariel Capanna with input and assistance from neighbors is the only fresco mural in the city and a highlight of the avenue featuring sweet and significant details like a small mail truck with Huff-Labovitz’s brother’s carrier number on it a mural by Mariel Capanna at Disston Street on Tacony Avenue When it comes to older buildings that are historic like many of the commercial properties along Torresdale Avenue Tacony has benefited from a number of the city’s “soft preservation” tools A natural fit is the city’s Storefront Improvement Program which covers 50 percent of costs up to $10,000 for exterior improvements and which more than 40 property owners in Tacony have used “In a lot of cases you’re addressing deferred maintenance on buildings which may not rise to the level of ‘significant’ because no one has had a chance to nominate them,” says Balloon “[These tools] might not be reserved for designated buildings but are just as important when we preserve so many buildings which are undesignated in the city of Philadelphia.” Other tools in Tacony CDC’s belt include promoting the Philly First Home homebuyer assistance grants as well as using the Pennsylvania Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act (Act 135) to transfer ownership of about a dozen abandoned and vacant buildings to people who will take them on and make repairs While the median sold price of homes in Tacony remains slightly lower than in the city overall the housing market has been on a steady incline The Tacony Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia is one of several neighborhood civic hubs that foster community in the area Main Street and Tacony’s success does also rely on some more traditional preservation tools A massive National Register Historic District nomination for the Tacony-Disston Community Development district encompassing more than 1,400 properties was approved in 2016 unlocking access to federal historic preservation tax credits for commercial buildings the Disston-Tacony Industrial Waterfront Historic District which includes the former Disston Saw Works was listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in August 2021 very aware of some of the development that’s been going on at the Frankford Arsenal in Bridesburg and we would love to see some of these wonderful buildings reused,” says Balloon “We’re also very excited about our new waterfront trail that Riverfront North is building.” A number of existing organizations helped advance the plan in Tacony creating what Balloon refers to as a “big tent vision” for the future of the neighborhood and the Tacony Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia all partnered in the effort which placed a strong emphasis on attracting families and creating opportunities for family-friendly events along the corridor The Tacony Library reopened in 2017 after an extensive renovation and redesign The library offers the largest green space along Torresdale Avenue and serves as an anchor and key “third space” for neighborhood residents–very much by design the Tacony CDC conducted a study and found that about 80 percent of the people who come to Torresdale Avenue are there to use the library “To leverage that social and geographic value of a library to do something transformative can be extremely beneficial for a Main Street,” says Weber Weber notes that it will be interesting to try to better understand how the pandemic has impacted Tacony and its status as a middle neighborhood need the continued support of stable property values and dependable community institutions to keep from slipping into at-risk territory “Property values have really jumped up in the last couple of years but the social support institutions that middle neighborhoods rely upon most of those have stagnated or have really fallen into some degree of dysfunction,” she says A rendering from the Tacony-Disston Industrial Waterfront Historic District nomination shows extant buildings at the former Disston Saw Works factory site Tacony CDC is gearing up to develop a new strategic five-year plan James McCrone took over Balloon’s position as executive director in May and comes to the position with a wide range of applicable experience most recently working for The United Merchants of the S 9th Street Business Association as their business manager “Alex and the board have done an extraordinary job,” says McCrone “[Tacony CDC] is hooked into the community very deeply to some of the ministries we’ve partnered with There’s a lot of energy and support for our efforts and it’s wonderful to be a part of that.” Huff-Labovitz says that Tacony can serve as a model for other middle neighborhoods While the beginning of the process can be slow-going Business owners talk to one another and see how improvements are made and want to do the same Getting community organizations and leadership on the same page is crucial “We’ve all had a really good working relationship,” she says “and that’s what keeps Tacony moving forward.” Tags:     Starr Herr-Cardillo is a staff writer for Hidden City Daily When she’s not covering local preservation issues or writing editorials for Hidden City she works as a historic preservation professional in the nonprofit sector Herr-Cardillo was drawn to the field by a deep affinity for adobe and vernacular architecture She holds a Certificate in Heritage Conservation from the University of Arizona and an M.S Thanks for updating what is going on in Tacony where my Grandparents I was merely a weekend visitor but found the area welcoming and exciting I loved on Oxford Circle before moving to Doylestown when I got married in 1989 I never went to Tacony because I had no friends or family living there I am very impressed with the article on the growth of Tacony and I believe if they can do it then so can the people living in Frankford are capable of pulling themselves up by the straps to achieve something good than waste their time writing off Frankford to the opiod addicts and homeless people as this fear of the negativity that lives in the neighborhood is not the way it should be I see Frankford as an opportunity for those to invest on rejuvenating Frankford This wan’t in the article but it was also a first for Tacony. Frank Shuman’s Solar powered engine in his backyard in the early 1900s. Looks like Hidden City covered the story in 2014! http://hiddencityphila.org/2014/05/frank-shuman-finding-the-future-in-tacony-a-century-ago/ and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. By: 7:30 am on July 31 The construction costs are specified at $244,000 of which $220,000 is allocated toward general construction Credit: Zoning permit via the City of Philadelphia The new building will be rather modestly sized: its 20-by-50-foot ground footprint will take up just under 28 percent of the 36-by-101-foot lot A single parking space in the rear yard will be accessible via a 16-foot-wide alley that will run along the building’s south side set back by eight feet in what appears to be a nod to adjacent built context The ground level will sit flush with the sidewalk elevation; floor-to-floor slab heights will span ten feet (and eight and a half feet for the basement) The building exterior will appear rather conventional while siding will cover the rear elevation While the design aesthetic is rather unremarkable at a minimum it should be lauded by espousing Philadelphia’s classic rowhouse paradigm from its massing to the exterior cladding choice rather than an outright suburban style; indeed the latter may not have been out of the question for the design given the neighborhood’s certain suburban features such as the presence of a sizable strip mall fronted by a parking lot situated right next door The new proposal will replace a much more attractive residential building that appears to date to the prewar period according to documentation submitted to the planning department possibly past a point of feasible renovation The route 66 bus runs up the block along Frankford Avenue with an eponymous trail and the picturesque arched Pennypack Creek Bridge Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ADVERTISEMENT Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboard🎣 Go fish | Outdoorsy NewsletterAnd Pennsylvania’s greatest fisherman Steely Dan is fishing for your answer: “Are you reelin’ in the years?” But don’t get it tangled — they don’t stink ☁️ Your weekend weather outlook: Friday might be soggy at times but the rain should usher in better conditions on Saturday and Sunday It also looks like a heatwave is on the way 📮 Are you a new or experienced angler? Got any tips or favorite spots? Email me back for a chance to be featured in this newsletter — Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here Whether you’re in it for table fare or you simply enjoy the thrill of sportsfishing there’s a site waiting for you in our area The Schuylkill River alone is home to over 40 fish species — anglers can find perch and more along the banks — but there are various other creeks 🪝 In Pennsylvania and New Jersey anglers over the age of 16 must have a valid fishing license Some waterways are contaminated with chemicals that could result in various health problems 🪝 Look out for signs with posted “Do Not Eat” advisories It’s all in our guide, including a handy key with specific limitations at each location. Get the full list of notable fishing spots in the Philadelphia region 🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to Jason Nark A few weeks downstream from his 90th birthday Joe Humphreys still dreams of future trout the muscled browns he lost during the fight wily titans he couldn’t conjure up from the cold eddies of Pennsylvania’s legendary streams wading through Centre County’s Spring Creek it was one of the most beautiful things I ever saw And my mother made a sandwich out of it for me and that was the best sandwich I ever ate,” he said Monday night a smile beaming across his face from the decades-old memory Wearing a black turtleneck and an autumnal tweed blazer instead of his traditional rubber waders he was sitting in a cafe inside the Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center in downtown West Chester yellow book as if it were a bible: Joe Humphreys’s Trout Tactics: Updated & Expanded wait till my husband sees I’m sitting next to him,” one woman exclaimed Montgomery County has given a “jump start” to a long dreamed of plan to tap the Schuylkill as a renewable energy source Backpacks are now banned at night in the coastal family vacation town of Wildwood Philly collects 2,000 tons of downed trees a year. Now, it’s milling them for sale as commercial lumber They honk, they hiss, and have been even described as “poop machines.” It feels like Canada geese are inescapable, but studies show some populations are declining We narrowed down this summer’s best outdoor classical concerts Major bragging rights are due for one Berks County teen one-ounce white perch during a fishing trip with his father in the Delaware River back recently verified by the state Fish and Boat Commission and when I went to put that one in the cooler we both said that’s got to be the biggest white perch we’ve ever seen,” Barrett said in a PFBC news release See how Barrett reeled in the attention-getting perch Food critic Craig LaBan shares his family legacy of fishing — and recipes to try Follow along with a newbie testing their newly-acquired fly fishing skills What happens when bait and tackle shops disappear? There’s only one left in Philly breezy day at the Willow Creek Winery in Cape May I was recently recovering from a stubborn spring cold I brewed what I hoped was my last eucalyptus mint tea to soothe my throat But I couldn’t help but smile when the teabag I pulled gave me this Emily Dickinson quote: “How strange that Nature does not knock and yet does not intrude!” May we never forget it By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use including the grant of rights in Section 10 This post was reviewed and manually archived because some of the content is out of date In October the Historical Commission designated the first local historic district in Tacony. The Disston-Tacony Industrial Waterfront Historic District recognizes the important role Henry Disston & Sons’ Keystone Saw Works played in the early development of Tacony The Tacony Community Development Corporation nominated the district The company operated along the waterfront from 1872-1955 It transformed the saw and tool making industry in Philadelphia and the United States English immigrant Henry Disston began making saws to meet a demand for local the company was the largest saw manufacturer in the country it continued to develop new products and manufacturing methods Henry Disston bought a large tract of land in Tacony to move his company there He saw Tacony as a place that could host a large manufacturing plant and provide a family-centered environment for its employees affordable housing and the amenities of a small town or suburb the manufacturing plant covered more than 50 acres and had 3,000 employees The Disston family’s concern for their workers fostered loyalty and turned Tacony into a company town This historic district recognizes the site of the Henry Disston & Sons’ Keystone Saw Works as a unique industrial area in Philadelphia Designation provides preservation protections for buildings and landscape features that played an important role in Philadelphia’s manufacturing history and the heritage of Tacony cities and towns have adopted historic districts as parts of their planning Local historic districts promote community pride and a sense of place Curious about other historic sites in Tacony Stay up to date on future historic designations. Sign up for emails from the Historical Commission by | Jul 11, 2023 | News | 0 comments Back in June the Bicycle Coalition joined the annual Block Party hosted by the Tookany/Tacony Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership The summer TTF Block Party is a 3-day event where community members can walk through the trails of Tacony Creek Park and learn more about other organizations and community resources As summer heated up, it was the perfect time for biking and exploring the trails. Bartram’s Bike Hub Manager Jack Kavanagh and BCGP Education Intern Emily Dzieniszewski were on hand to offer bike tours to youth and adults along the Tacony Creek Trail starting at I Street and Ramona Avenue.  Additionally, Sarah Clark Stuart and Patrick Monahan were distributing information about the Circuit Trails a vast regional network of hundreds of miles of multi-use trails that is growing in size each year The Circuit connects our local communities providing endless opportunities for recreating and commuting Five young riders rented out bikes and rode down the trail showing off their skills One family brought along their little one who wanted to give a pedal bike a try I will definitely take her out to the park again to keep practicing!” Ship crashes into Tacony-Palmyra BridgeAssociated PressPHILADELPHIA – A ship struck a major bridge that connects South Jersey and Pennsylvania shuttering the Burlington County span and its pedestrian walkway for about five hours Authorities say the drawbridge of the Tacony-Palmyra bridge was open for a southbound ship when the vessel hit a fender protecting one of its stone piers around 10:30 p.m But the bridge remained closed until about 3:30 a.m Thursday so engineers could inspect the bridge for any potential damage The cause of the collision remains under investigation Officials are trying to determine if the strong gusty winds that were blowing around that time played a role in the accident The toll bridge between Palmyra and the Tacony section of Philadelphia is operated by the Burlington County Bridge Commission but Tacony would never look back in league play and would dethrone the Hibs as champs Along the way they would also win the American Cup After a great burst of soccer in Philadelphia in the early 1890s the late 1890s and early 1900s were a time of little growth and some retreat The reason for this was the severe economic depression that swept through industrial America in the mid 1890s Irish and Scottish neighborhoods of Philadelphia that had been instrumental in establishing the city’s first leagues were particularly hard hit by the economic crisis Clubs and leagues folded as their members faced the more pressing concerns of daily existence in a depression In view of the mass wave of patriotism that accompanied the lead up to the Spanish American War in 1898 and the widespread questioning of British motives and policy in the Boer War of  1899-1902 the identification of soccer as a sport of British immigrants was also a factor many native-born Americans refused to support a “foreign” sport while many were scornful of supporting a “British” sport helped to make it more of an “American” activity The game also enjoyed increasing support by elite sections of Philadelphia society The Associated Cricket Clubs League was thriving the establishment of teams at local universities was growing newspaper coverage was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and workplace-based soccer teams were sponsored by Philadelphia industrialists By the end of the first decade of the new century the city had at least five leagues and scores of teams That the Public Schools Athletic League was ready to adopt the game the Fairmount Park Commission to allow soccer to be played in its parks and the Playgrounds Association to equip the city’s playgrounds with goals were all further indications of how soccer was entering Philadelphia’s athletic mainstream by the 1870s the Disston Saw Works were on their way to being the largest saw making facility in the world Henry Disston was an exemplar of Victorian utopianism: he believed that he had an obligation to improve the lives of his workers and their families He supported the construction of homes for his employees and provided the financial infrastructure for employees to purchase them The company also funded the construction of a meeting hall a philosophy which helped to guide the early development of what is now the Tacony section of Philadelphia The Tacony team would be known by a variety of names throughout their history—Philadelphia Tacony and Philadelphia Disston—but their nickname would always be “The Sawmakers.” By 1910 Tacony had been playing in the Pennsylvania League for five years Their debut game in the Pennsylvania League had been against Albion who would be the eventual winners of that year’s league championship Tacony gave the Philadelphia soccer community a glimpse of what was to come when they played Albion off the pitch Tacony faced East Newark’s Celtic FC at home in the second round on December 11 1909 with only ten men: outside right John Plant had missed his train from Trenton The Philadelphia Inquirer described the game in its match report the next day as “one of the roughest played on the local grounds this season,” with the Celtics “adopting foul tactics” when they realized the game was lost with one player even going so far as to strike “the Tacony linesman” when he called the ball out of play the fast Tacony side won the game 3–1 by employing a “great combination game.” In the next round Tacony faced the Paterson Rangers, who played in the semi-professional National Association Foot Ball League The Philadelphia Inquirer match report of March 7 1910 described Tacony as playing “classy ball,”  and as being “superior at all points of the game,” so proving themselves “in the front rank as being one of the best soccer teams in the country.” Inside left Thomas Hyslop a former Scotland international and veteran of English first division play with Sunderland and Stoke “put up a star game,” scoring two goals in the 4–1 victory the right halfback must have had a bad day: Tacony’s outside left John Smith scored the other two goals Tacony was now one game away from the American Cup final To get there they would have to best the Fall River Rovers The Rovers had made it to the semifinals the previous year and had been one of only two American team to beat the Pilgrims on their 1909 tour the Rovers met Tacony at the Tacony Ball Park at State and Unruh streets The original referee had failed to show up from Brooklyn so the team captains eventually agreed to let George Young of Philadelphia officiate the game Young “was too severe on some things and too lenient on others” with the visitors playing “anything but gentlemanly football.” Tacony was first on the board with McDonald banging in a pass from Hyslop after 30 minutes Just before halftime Rovers equalized with a “rather fluky” goal understandable when one considers he had started the year at fullback becoming Tacony’s keeper only after their original keeper had decided to return to England earlier in the season With about five minutes of play left in the game a scrimmage in front of the Rovers net saw Smith score the winner Before time was called the Rovers left fullback was sent off for tripping Hyslop the Rovers manager had to “go onto the ground and take him off before the game was allowed to proceed.” After being postponed for one week because of rain Tacony faced the Scottish-Americans in the American Cup final The Scottish-Americans enjoyed a distinct advantage: they were from Newark Some 7000 spectators gathered to watch the final including 500 from Philadelphia who had traveled to support their team the combination play of the Tacony front line saw inside right George Kemp pass to Plant Hyslop saw McDonald break clear twelve yards from goal and in the words of the Inquirer match report the next day “McDonald made no mistake with the final shot.” Tacony maintained their lead into the second half but with the wind at the Scottish Americans backs many thought the Newark team “would have no difficulty in winning out.” Soon Tacony left fullback John Allen appeared to foul the Scottish American’s inside right Fenwick referee John Nesbitt of New York awarded a penalty kick Both sides pressed furiously but the Scottish Americans couldn’t penetrate Tacony’s defenses Tacony was attacking when a defender deliberately handled the ball Tacony were awarded a penalty kick which Morrison converted “by safely planting the sphere in the far corner of the net.” The Scottish Americans had a few more chances but “the aggressiveness of Tacony was too much for the ‘Scots,’ and they fairly played the latter off their feet in the last ten minutes.” Final score: Tacony 2 For the first time since the John A. Manz team had won the cup in 1897 a Philadelphia team was the winner of the American Cup or cup match the entire season with only two draws in league play As the 1910 Spalding Official Soccer Foot Ball Guide then the official record of the American game said “It cannot be denied that Tacony was ‘the team of the year.” Philadelphia was ready to make its mark on the American soccer scene A version of this post originally appeared on February 18 Really beginning days of Philly Soccer are unforgettable In the beginning of the 1900s Philly Soccer became favorites of all Philly Soccer History was quiet interesting ib06rq11 http://nolvadexpharmacy.pro/#oh87 to buy generic nolvadex lead58 http://paydayloanson.pro/#xz63 payday loan military my web site; auto transport rates per mile Me encanta la historia temprana del soccer americano Y cuesta creer que haya quedado tan relegado luego de la caida economica de los 30 Maxime teniendo un gran potencial y tan desaprovechado Muy distinta hubiera sido la historia si se ganaba el mundial del 30 Lamentablemente los muchachos de Millar no tuvieron el caracter y la fiereza para contrarrestar el juego violento de Argentina Go behind the headlines: From the economy and healthcare to politics and the environment - and so much more - On Point talks with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most 50 acres preserved for public on Northeast Philly mental health hospital grounds Grounds along the Tacony Creek in Northeast Philadelphia will now be open to the public after Natural Lands invested $500,000 to create a conservation easement that preserves 49 acres of the Friends Hospital property WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. Preserving Our Water: How we use our Delaware Watershed The project is funded by The William Penn Foundation the volunteer group will partner with a local church to provide a community fridge Friday’s crash of a medical transport jet in Northeast Philly killed seven people The investigation into the cause is ongoing Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY By: 8:00 am on November 4 but since the siting and scale generally remain very similar we are displaying them here to give the reader an idea of the overall development the project will also include a 11,208-square-foot commercial component Permits list 7165 Keystone Investments as the owner Brett Harman of Harman Deutsch Ohler Architecture as the design professional Construction costs are listed at $15 million Although no updated renderings are available permit stats indicate that little has changed in the latest revision The permit-listed architect is consistent with the Civic Design Review submission meaning that the design will likely remain very similar meaning that the feature has not been removed during the redesign process An area reduction from the originally planned 115,252 square feet to 100,508 square feet in the latest submission is consistent with the reduction in height and unit number The fact that the development still calls for 35 parking spaces as before indicates that the ground layout is likely the same or very similar as any alteration in outdoor parking space by default necessitates site layout changes The ground footprint of 36,256 square feet also appears consistent with prior plans which features the tallest structures in the Philadelphia area so far it appears that the building’s scale reduction comes not from a major site plan or massing alteration If this turns out correct and if it were carried out to allay complaints from local NIMBY interests it would be a frustrating and rather futile turn of events especially since the original sixth floor was set back from the parapet and would have been barely visible from the street level nor would have cast any notable shadows on the surroundings Despite the regrettable reduction in housing units the proposal is a boon for the neighborhood The development would add significant density to a desolate industrial edge of a residential neighborhood enhancing its appeal and safety via added pedestrian presence The structure would close a major gap between the renovated Keystone Lofts to the east and a residential row to the west replacing an inhospitable parking lot with pleasant street frontage One of the most significant improvements to come with the redesign is the apparent replacement of the original industrial component at the ground level with commercial space which will further energize the surrounding area The site sits at the southern fringe of Tacony, a neighborhood situated in the southern portion of Near Northeast Philadelphia a few blocks to the east of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge The Tacony Station on the SEPTA Regional Rail Trenton Line located roughly halfway between the proposed complex and the bridge provides direct commute to central Philadelphia The Delaware River waterfront sits a few blocks to thee south although it is difficult to access due to the barrier formed by Interstate 95 and a rugged industrial zone In a highly unexpected turn of events, the area, which is considered off-the-beaten-path even by local Philadelphia standards, was recently thrust into national spotlight. Last year, on November 7th, four days after the presidential election, President Donald Trump’s legal team, led by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, held a press conference in the parking lot of Four Seasons Total Landscaping a small business sited at 7347 State Road in the rough-and-tumble industrial district two blocks to the southeast of the planned development at 7165 Keystone Street Rudy Giuliani at the Trump press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping Trump’s and Giuliani’s team offered few comprehensive reasons for their choice of this highly unexpected venue to air allegations of election irregularities which the team bills as an issue of historic proportions Perhaps more light will be shed on the reasons for this site selection in the MSNBC-produced documentary Four Seasons Total Documentary a few days from today and just a week after the permit filing at 7165 Keystone Street Sick nimbys cut it from 6 to 5 stories unless it was ZBA DiCicco to shut uo everybody and get this built So you have no idea but need to blame someone 2024The driver of a garbage truck walked away after crashing near a PECO substation on Friday morning.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The driver of a garbage truck walked away after crashing near a PECO substation on Friday morning Chopper 6 was over the scene in the Tacony section of Philadelphia near Elbridge Street and New State Road Police say the woman behind the wheel lost control then hit a pole and a fence bringing down wires and flipping the truck PECO says most customers had their service restored This underpass will also connect Phase 1 of the lower trail Parks and Rec Deputy Commissioner Aparna Palantino addresses the crowd died on Roosevelt Boulevard as she was crossing the roadway while jogging on the Tacony Creek Trail on May 29 This connector will make it much safer to use the Trail for recreation and transportation because no one will have to cross the Boulevard again while using the trail Local 2nd graders turn a formulaic dirt churning exercise into something fun This is a major win for BCGP, Tacony/Tookany Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF), East Coast Greenway (ECG) and city residents, and will close a major gap in The Circuit and the ECG Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a652f302189846c07ecf354a45e96b06");document.getElementById("aac14c09d5").setAttribute("id","comment") Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) The Victorian redbrick Tacony Music Hall is an icon of this working class riverfront community in the lower Northeast The stately bulk of the building is breathtaking standing out from its plainspoken neighbors on Longshore Avenue It’s the kind of building that causes newcomers to the neighborhood to stop and gaze upward in awe and its assembly hall hosted performances and public events been a real estate office and home to Tacony Community Development Corporation Now in its third century of existence this historically-designated structure is slated for a unique new use the Tacony Music Hall will be Philadelphia’s first sex positive community center There are a lot of rumors swirling around the neighborhood about what that means exactly. Will it be a nightclub? A swingers’ hang out, like the Saints and Sinners venue that Councilman Bobby Henon helped shut down in Holmesburg last year nothing concrete,” says Joseph Sannutti Sannutti hasn’t been appraised of the latest community meetings on the subject but he described what he’d been hearing before he headed south “We were told it was going to be a lesbian transgender club—that’s their business,” says Sannutti  “But we also heard it’s going to be a nightclub We are completely against that all together.” The new plans for the music hall have been quietly coming together for the past few months Now with a ZBA hearing scheduled and the community abuzz PlanPhilly sat down with Deborah Rose Hinchey one of the principal organizers behind the project to talk about the future of the Tacony Music Hall “I had a neighbor come up to me at the space the other day and ask if we are a sex club,” says Hinchey “I didn’t anticipate the rumors I realized we had to get into the neighborhood and explain that we are not a swingers club or a sex club.” Hinchey and her team aren’t planning an LGBTQ community center either although she said the model for the new organization is based on spaces like the William Way Center in the Gayborhood The Tacony Music Hall will serve as a space for those who subscribe to the philosophy of sex positivity It’s an expansive umbrella that encompasses a lot of preferences and practices which Hinchey described as inclusive of everything from polyamory or the practice of engaging openly in concurrent sexual relationships The key organizing tenet is that sex of pretty much any kind is good and healthy as long as it’s consensual The community center slated for the Tacony Music Hall will hold movie nights offer classes in different relationship practices and parties that cater to a variety of alternative sexual communities Sannutti and the Tacony Civic need not worry about crazed late night dance parties though Hinchey said alcohol and drugs would be explicitly banned from the space “A lot of these communities currently operate largely in bars and illegal warehouses,” says Hinchey  “Because of the stigma attached to them these communities have largely been forced into the shadows and the shadows are dangerous.” Hinchey and her compatriots want to open up a space for people to explore sexuality outside of mainstream society in a safe and consensual fashion They believe that booze or drugs of any kind would imperil that mission “Consent is a problem when alcohol is involved–any intoxicant really blurs the line,” says Hinchey Not allowing intoxicants in a space infinitely improves the safety of that space.” Not only do intoxicants complicate consent but they also discourage the participation of sober individuals and expose these marginalized communities to interference from the state In addition to a ban on the sale or ingestion of intoxicants no one under the age of 18 can enter the Philadelphia Music Hall Participants must review the organization’s rules and regulations—such as no touching anyone without their explicit approval—and sign a waiver agreeing before entering The sex positive community center will only occupy the top two floors of the three-story building with the first floor available for rent to other businesses Currently a daycare and the Tacony CDC operate on the ground floor The programming of the community center will vary Parties after business hours will occur on the weekends There will also be eight co-working spaces available to members of the center Membership costs between $50 and $150 a year Hinchey and her business partners have been planning the idea of an alcohol-free sex positive gathering space for three years The concept is more common on the west coast home to the Center for Positive Sexuality in Los Angeles the Center for Sex and Culture in San Francisco and the Center for Sex Positive Culture Seattle When Hinchey first began scouting locations for a community center they concentrated in West Philadelphia, especially in areas close to Cedar Park and Spruce Hill, neighborhoods that have a long history of providing safe spaces and group houses for those outside normative society “I have stood in an ungodly number of abandoned warehouses and vacant churches,” said Hinchey  “We had a long love affair with putting it in West Philly because the communities we serve are based here The lower Northeast it just wasn’t on our radar We knew the councilman from that area has largely gone after sex positive communities in the past But who could turn down the Tacony Music Hall?” Hinchey and her team tried to fly under the radar for fear of political interference purchased the building in January and plans to lease them the top two floors Despite the fact that the club isn’t seeking a license to serve alcohol they have a ZBA hearing scheduled for April 5th The group needs a private club license—to ensure its members anonymity—and a special exception for “live entertainment for over 50 people.” That’s where the ZBA comes in At last week’s meeting of the Tacony Civic Association vice president Michael Thaete’s said many attendees were skeptical of the idea fearing disruptive presence in the neighborhood “We are trying to bring Tacony back to a neighborhood where you want to live again Having a private club that operates with more than 50 people…on the surface the board of the civic would not be in favor of this,” he said Although Thaete says he’s heard the club doesn’t plan to sell alcohol he fears that it may try to do so in the future welcoming and positive community,” says Henon “But the applicant did not do any outreach to the community until the zoning process triggered a community meeting requirement the applicant articulated a desire to build a community for their own members but they failed to proactively consider educate or engage the Tacony community that they want to call home.” There will be a community meeting on March 23rd where Hinchey and her compatriots will answer questions from the neighborhood about the project Thaete says the Tacony Civic Association will make a final decision on its position at that time said he wasn’t aware that the new use for the music hall would ban drinks we have the American Legion,” said Sannutti As long as we can all work together no matter what creed preference or whatever—it’s America that’s how I feel about it.”  PALMYRA – The long running Tacony Palmyra Flea Market will close for good in August According to an announcement on its Facebook page said its closing for “business reasons” and confirmed the closing date in an email response to the Courier Post Palmyra borough officials say they view it as generally positive news that the flea market is closing because they believe it will “help advance redevelopment of the site and area,” borough administrator John Gural said in an email to the Courier Post operating business the property is clearly underutilized and makes for a stronger argument that the area is in need of redevelopment,” he said “We’ve already heard from developers excited about the prospect and new opportunity The flea market has been a drain on our resources created a number of issues including traffic congestion and parking issues in our neighborhoods in the past and has been an obstacle to redevelopment.” is a privately owned Massachusetts-based company and is a parent company of Viacom and CBS Corp Gural said NAI sued the borough for forcing the closure of the flea market while they remediated unexploded military ordnance at the site “The borough won that lawsuit fortunately and we were able to proceed with removal of over 300 unexploded post World War II era high-explosive bombs left on the property by the Army Corps of Engineers during testing in the early 1950s,” he said “That was clearly a dangerous situation for all and we felt NAI put profits ahead of people in that case “… While most large companies often give back something to the community we’ve only experienced problems with them unfortunately Our hope now is that they maintain the property while it remains vacant and until a master redeveloper can be named We’re working with several now and at least one proposal looks very promising Not everyone is happy to see the open-air flea market located on Route 73 near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge close down lived in Palmyra for more than 20 years before recently moving to Collingswood and has fond memories of the flea market It was something he did almost every weekend “I’ve seen it change like business models through the years,” he said “As kids we used to go and ride our bicycles over almost every weekend You can kind of see how the market changed over the years we would almost have to park across the highway and walk over because we simply couldn’t get in Patricia Dungee of Pennsauken did vending at the flea market for many years and said it often helped her family financially during lean times “My husband was in the union so we had ups and downs,” she said “Tacony market helped fill the gaps when we struggled during layoffs Sometimes ice chunks would be sticking up through the intermittent asphalt & gravel We had an agenda: First we had to make enough to pay the space rent Then he would go out to find something that was music related She said they would be there from about 5 a.m or later depending on how the selling was going “I made good money there," she recalled I had one guy who came every Sunday morning Sometimes I could leave after he made his purchase We always wrapped up the day by packing up my red van and hitting McDonald’s.” Help support local journalism with a Courier Post subscription 2022 – PennDOT is rebuilding and relocating the Interstate 95 Bridge Street Interchange ramps as a major part of the Section BS2 project that is expected to be under construction later in 2022 The new-look Bridge Street Interchange close the southbound off-ramp currently at James Street and relocate it to Tacony Street at a relocated Carver Street underpass the current northbound on-ramp at Bridge Street will be closed and replaced with a new northbound on-ramp at Tacony Street as well Meander through the new interchange by viewing the video slideshow below Click here for current news releases. Click here for construction updates killed by SEPTA train in Tacony section of PhiladelphiaService on the Trenton Regional Rail Line was temporarily shut down while officials investigated PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A person was struck and killed by a SEPTA train in the Tacony section of Philadelphia on Thursday morning There was no immediate word as to why the person was on the tracks Service on the Trenton Regional Rail Line was temporarily shut down while officials investigated Under the Green City, Clean Waters plan, the Tacony Creek should be clean enough to swim and fish in within the next 25 years. This past spring the city and the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership, Inc. took a major step toward achieving that goal when they opened the Tacony Creek Trail.  One of the city’s newest outdoor recreation and nature trails the Tacony Creek Trail extends a little more than a mile from Roosevelt Boulevard through lower Tacony Creek Park and the Juniata Golf Course to I Street and Ramona Ave The trail follows Tacony Creek Park and meanders through forest and meadow areas.  “We designed it so people would have a meandering trail through the woods and not just a straight shot along the creek,” said Rob Armstrong, preservation and capital projects manager with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Armstrong compared the forest area of the trail to portions of the Wissahickon Valley and Pennypack Trail.  Four neighborhood gateways provide easy access to the park (see map below) and make the trail accessible to the various neighborhoods along the route.  the park provides unique examples of how a nature trail can help improve the health of a polluted waterway and the challenges associated with drawing people into a park that even some neighbors might not know about.  Tacony Creek starts as the Tookany Creek in Cheltenham Township Where it enters Philadelphia and forms the unofficial border between Northeast Philly and the rest of the city where the Tacony Creek meets Wingohocking Creek – now a sewer with the largest outflow in the city – its name changes again to Frankford Creek Frankford Creek feeds into the Delaware River in Bridesburg The park that surrounds the creek starts near Melrose Country Club in Cheltenham and extends through Juniata Park in Philadelphia Because the watershed and park are so vast organizing to improve the health of both takes on a different shape In 2000, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) launched the TTF Watershed Partnership diverse stakeholders that neighbor the watershed Now Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is leading work on Tacony Creek Trail while PWD is supporting the efforts of TTF to get people onto the trail and into the park.  In April the Tacony Creek Trail officially opened in lower Tacony Creek Park and TTF has been working since to activate the trail by engaging users. The park’s immediate neighbors are the organization’s first prospects “It would certainly be wonderful to have it be a destination,” said Alix Howard “In the meantime it won’t become a destination until there are users here making it feel safe.” TTF Executive Director Julie Slavet said the organization wants to help neighbors think of the park in manageable sections and to take ownership of the part of the park that’s closest to them She hopes each neighborhood surrounding the park will think of their section as their extended backyard TTF has been organizing block parties and events at each of the four neighborhood gateways that feed into the trail TTF and the partner organizations want to draw as many people into the park as possible They hope to work with everyone from historical societies to birders and runners to create consistent programming that will get people involved The driving force behind this work is the need to improve the health of Tacony Creek one of the city’s polluted waterways “The reason there’s sewage in the Tacony is there’s too much runoff,” Slavet said Ideally improving the park and engaging users will help reduce the runoff that enters Tacony Creek and create more stewards of the watershed One challenge is letting people know that the park is safe and meant for running Before the Tacony Creek Trail was paved and officially designated a user-worn trail cut through the park and was frequented by ATVs which tend to deter people from walking through sediment is the worst pollutant in the creek Fortunately ATV enforcement by the Philadelphia Police Department seems to be getting stricter right when we built this trail and right when we want to get people back into the park,” Armstrong said One trail user who was biking through the park with two young children this July afternoon said his wife still doesn’t feel safe going on the trail alone “The more people that use it the better,” Armstrong said The city and TTF are leading by example and doing what they can to take back the Tacony Creek Trail “I feel like every time I come down here it looks a little better,” Howard said The park and trail are only bound to improve from here TTF is pushing full steam ahead with programming Parks & Recreation is committed to the trail PWD has committed to restoring the streambed and another major change is on the horizon Roosevelt Boulevard cuts lower Tacony Creek Park off from upper Tacony Creek Park but Parks & Recreation is planning a tunnel that will travel under the boulevard and connect the two park segments The project is in design and the capital funding has already been set aside Pending a Department of Environmental Protection permit construction could start sometime next year.  Tacony Creek Park is also being looked at as part of the Frankford Creek Greenway Feasibility Study which is being led by Parks & Recreation and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission The first public meeting will be held in late September.  Eyes on the Street brings new ideas and fresh voices into the conversation about Philadelphia’s changing cityscape the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) voted to revoke the fraternal organization permit for the Philly Music Hall sex-positive community association located in the historic Tacony Music Hall represented by Matthew McClure of Ballard Spahr argued that the application to open their space as a “fraternal use” was fraudulent and that the ZBA should review and revoke it “Sexual activity is not an accessory use to a fraternal organization,” said McClure “I’m a member of AOH [Ancient Order of Hibernians] I don’t remember anything like that ever occurring in any of those events.” Defending its decision to grant the permit Philadelphia’s city solicitor’s office argued that McClure and his clients were effectively asking the city to interrogate applicants for the details of their fraternal organization when they applied for the permit The Law Department’s Leonard Reuter said such a practice would be unconstitutional are we going to ask what is the racial composition of your membership,” asked Reuter The Supreme Court has consistently stated that sexual activity is a protected activity under the first amendment McClure counter-argued that his clients weren’t disputing freedom of association If the members of the Philly Music Hall were just getting together to talk “If they want to have a rock-’n-roll concert or a potluck dinner this is America they are allowed to do it,” said McClure “But when they go to various uses regulated by the code that’s when the City of Philadelphia gets involved The controversy over the music hall dates back to the early spring. In March, PlanPhilly reported that organizers associated with Philly Music Hall wanted to open a club for those of alternative sexual identity and practice The idea was to offer people a safe space to gather and practice a variety of activities away from warehouse parties and grimy bars where such communities had been relegated Alcohol and drugs were banned from the space but they still sought a private club license and special exemption for “live entertainment for over 50 people.” neighbors pressed club representatives to say that sex would never occur in the club but Philly Music Hall’s lead organizer said that she could not offer such a guarantee Philly Music Hall abandoned their initial plan and decided to register as a fraternal organization instead which would require no special exception or variance and its membership decided against holding events that are open to the public The Department of License and Inspections promptly awarded the permit the Tacony Civic Association promptly appealed it became clear that the commissioners viewed the Philly Music Hall dubiously as well as the City of Philadelphia’s case the civic association offered early advertisements for the sex club from when it was still seeking a live-entertainment permit the flyers announced demonstrations of S&M and a dungeon ZBA chair Frank DiCicco repeatedly inquired about the dungeon — particularly whether the club was using the basement in addition to the second and third floors that they have leased from the owner The group stated categorically that they have only used the basement for storage of a few boxes and a couch — no dungeons or anything else “A couch has many uses,” replied the chairman The commissioners returned to the advertisements periodically some of which featured images of scantily-clad individuals The civic association argued they clearly showed that the Philly Music Hall’s activities would actually constitute an “adult-oriented use,” which would prohibit it from being housed in its current redbrick Victorian mansion which also hosts a daycare on the first floor it became apparent that they weren’t exactly open-minded to the sex-positive club’s arguments Recalling Club Karma Sutra on South Street DiCicco suggested Philly Music Hall’s struggle to stay open wasn’t worth it “It’s a practical business decision,” said DiCicco turning to the Philly Music Hall’s lawyer “Your client may want to look for another venue is all I’m saying.” The ZBA hearing room was packed with several rows of Philly Music Hall supporters who quietly fumed as the case evidently slipped away from them When McClure stipulated that an advertised event offered $20 admittance to non-members The city’s lawyer countered that McClure presented  information that predated the club’s shift towards non-profit fraternal organization status “They are allowed to change their plans,” said Reuter from the city solicitor’s office “This is a dangerous place to put the city… If you have a complaint about what’s happening in the building just call L&I and deal with it that way.” the Zoning Board voted unanimously to revoke the permit Philly Music Hall plans to appeal the ruling All the right signs seem to be there: The first bakery in the neighborhood in 15 years recently opened The old Carnegie Library is being preserved and expanded with a modern addition A group of neighbors banded together to rehab and sell an old house And a couple from New York City has bought the grand bank building with plans to live there and open a recording studio And the neighborhood is working to ensure history is a part of its future The latest good news for the Northeast Philadelphia community is its nomination to become a National Register Historic District which was unanimously approved in February by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission the Tacony-Disston Community Development District is expected to be added to the National Register of Historic Places “It’s an honorific thing more than anything else It’s not like you’re going to snap your fingers and it’s going to cure everything in the neighborhood,” said Louis Iatarola a board member of the Historical Society of Tacony which began the discussion back in 2002 that led to the nomination “We’ve been waiting for things to happen The Preservation Design Partnership and historic preservation consultant Dr Emily Cooperman created the nomination to the National Register PDP architect Dominique Hawkins was project manager and Cooperman wrote the history of the community; the two had previously worked together on the district nomination of the city’s Yorktown neighborhood The inventory of the huge Tacony district – 55 blocks covering 158 acres with more than 1,400 contributing and non-contributing buildings and sites – took several months and involved an extensive field survey Writing the historical narrative took several months more “It’s wonderful to bring these narratives to the public so they are aware of the richness of places like Tacony,” Cooperman said Industrialist Henry Disston and his family developed the land in the Northeast section of the city from 1872 through the end of World War I as a distinct residential community for the employees of the Keystone Saw Works – one of the vital components of the city’s reputation as “Workshop of the World.” While other “company towns” were created in the 19th century this was “the first that succeeded in a big way,” Cooperman said “Disston created a community that has endured for over 100 years as a neighborhood He brought advantages of what was then a suburban lifestyle” of semi-detached and single houses enjoyed by managers and the middle class and created similar housing and amenities for industrial workers The model for most factory employees across the city was line after line of rowhouses “One of the tenets of Disston was considering the greater good of his workers He took a paternalistic approach and provided a lifestyle that was of a much higher quality than the norm for that period,” Cooperman said Aside from the unusual housing built in Disston’s community the company and family supported the establishment of churches businesses and schools; the handsome Tacony Trust Fund Building to assist the saw factory workers with their finances; the Tacony Music Hall to serve as a cultural center; and Disston Park which provided a green buffer between housing and the work zone along the Delaware River Most of these historic resources have been well preserved by their owners and the community and other architectural gems could be renovated with the assistance of federal rehabilitation tax credits once the district has been listed on the National Register The approach taken by Disston remains a part of Tacony’s unusual character “You can still see it when you drive through It’s a different place; the pattern shifts There is a sense of green space and expansion You have a sense of being able to breathe better in Tacony.” a real estate appraiser and longtime resident and booster of Tacony believes that the community’s listing on the National Register will help develop its contemporary identity and appeal to new investors and potential residents “We thought that by promoting our industrial history we can carve out a unique niche as a neighborhood that still has good access to Center City The targets are owner-occupants and young families “Disston’s vision was really of a family community We’re left with so much of his legacy here We’d like to honor that vision.” The momentum has been building. Store facades are being renovated along the primary commercial corridor through Storefront Improvement Program grants from the Commerce Department “It’s looked better than it has in some time.” Secondary corridors like Princeton Avenue are also on the rise the first neighborhood bakery in more than a decade The former Prince Café has been purchased and renamed the SawTown Tavern is “getting back into positive mode,” Iatarola said “It was interesting to know that the folks who bought the Tacony Savings Fund already knew about the historic district nomination It was part of their decision to locate here,” Iatarola said Iatarola and his father have been the longtime owners of the landmark Tacony Music Hall Anthony and was individually listed on the National Register in 1990 But the Iatarolas are looking for smaller office space and have put the Longshore Avenue building on the market Over the past two months they’ve already talked with many potential live-work occupants the Mary Disston School is being renovated for a new charter school The developers are keeping the original granite building one of the city’s three original Carnegie Libraries is undergoing a two-year renovation that will preserve the early design and have a glass addition five neighbors purchased a historic house for $60,000 “That was very encouraging to see a corps of neighbors care like that,” Iatarola said There has also been new construction in the neighborhood A $5 million firehouse was dedicated in 2013 on the corner of Disston Park with a community room that opens into the green space An artist incorporated vintage firefighting equipment and antique circular saws into the design and the retaining wall of the new facility Tacony’s historians have long planned to nominate the neighborhood to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in addition to the National Register “We thought we’d do one and then the other and make them mirror one another,” Iatarola said “But we realized that’s more of a challenge than we thought it was going to be.” Consultants have advised that an easier more manageable approach would be to focus on a smaller area than the National Register District “There has been loss of too much character on some blocks to warrant the ability to designate the whole area as a city district,” Iatorala said It could be the largest historic district in Philadelphia if they included all of the contributing buildings in the national district Tacony may focus on the most significant blocks in the center of the designated area or write a series of nominations for individual properties “It is on the horizon,” Iatarola said “and we don’t want to wait too long.” he is very excited by the private investment and community pride that has been rising in Disston’s company town “We’ve been here [in the old Music Hall] for 26 years We wondered if it was ever going to happen here,” Iatarola said we’re very encouraged by what we see.” View Tacony National Register Nomination PDF a privately held manufacturer and distributor that provides the world with solutions for sewing 21 that Ryan Wesselschmidt has been named senior vice president of sales and marketing Tacony Company owns Fort Worth-based Powr-Flite a leader in the commercial floor care business for over 35 years Tacony has offices at 3101 Wichita Court in Fort Worth Wesselschmidt was previously based in Stockholm and joined Tacony after 20 years with Husqvarna Group the world’s largest supplier of outdoor power equipment where he was global vice president of sales and service In addition to developing sales territories and managing direct sales channels in the U.S. Wesselschmidt built a first-in-class sales force expanded markets throughout the emerging markets and gained extensive market share across Europe Missouri-based Tacony Corporation is a privately held manufacturing and distribution company with more than 350 associates in eight offices around the world “Ryan’s leadership principles – personal accountability, collaboration, and customers first always – align closely with Tacony’s core values,” said Kristi Tacony Humes, CEO, Tacony Corp we are building a team to help us fulfill our mission to exceed our customers’ needs; Ryan’s addition to our team is a giant step in that direction.” Wesselschmidt was born and raised in the Midwest and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia He calls Missouri home and has relocated to St Louis to join the Tacony Family beginning in January 2021 Powr-Flite started in 1967 as a vacuum cleaner parts distributor and in 1986 developed and introduced the first Powr-Flite branded line of floor machines and burnishers The company has  evolved into a full manufacturing facility with more than 20 patented designs for commercial floor care equipment Log in to leave a comment 2022Police initially believed the victim might have fallen out of his wheelchair and struck his head on the ground.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating after a man was found dead in the city's Tacony neighborhood Police say 55-year-old Thomas Hennessey suffered a gunshot wound to the head He was found unresponsive on the ground with blood around his head Police initially believed the victim might have fallen out of his wheelchair and struck his head on the ground Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS ‘We’re all connected by water’: Here’s how a Philly environmental org is thriving in the time of coronavirus by prioritizing neighborhood engagement Jay Coreano’s street murals in progress at Tacony Creek Park (Courtesy of Julie Slavet/TTF Watershed Partnership) making the area famous for regattas too shallow the team has been putting together a set of virtual tours which they hope to release later this week But Slavet still emphasizes the importance of coming together in physical public space Coreano isn’t the only neighborhood resident who didn’t know about the park; for years There’s no facility or rec center in the preserve’s 302-acre stretch and the TTF watershed team is the only organization doing consistent outreach to neighborhoods in the area she’s seen countless numbers of park users with a newfound interest in the area the coronavirus shutdown “has been the most positive thing that happened to Tacony Creek Park.” That might sound like a strange or overly optimistic view of the situation who Slavet calls a “one-man ambassador” for the park and I’ve never explored this trail ever,” he said explaining that a lot of his friends go to Pennypack Park or Kelly Drive — green spaces farther away — if they’re looking to relax or get outside “But we have this beautiful [park] right here I think it’s a good thing that people are going … we just need to take a walk In the midst of coronavirus shutdowns and widespread uprisings public green spaces have become increasingly critical Malcolm X Park and Norris Square are being used for community gatherings that emphasis on connection through environment comes as no surprise The 33-square-mile Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed is one of the city’s five main watersheds The park connects the neighborhood to the watershed and the watershed connects the neighborhoods to one another Whenever residents plant a seed packet or use a cleanup kit they’re acting to preserve and care for a larger system “Some people live upstream and some people live downstream The William Penn Foundation supports WHYY’s watershed coverage Residents say officials should have communicated in “real-time” and released details about air monitoring and chemicals at the plant sooner the situation is “under control” — but some residents can expect to smell gasoline and the odor of dead fish for the next few days The ship ran aground in the Delaware River north of the Ben Franklin Bridge By: 8:00 am on October 10 A six-story, 102-unit residential building has been proposed for 7165 Keystone Street in the Tacony neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia A Civic Design Review document submitted by Harman Deutsch Ohler Architecture earlier this year reveals the details on the 115,252-square-foot structure which will rise as an encore to the adjacent Keystone Lofts sited in a two-story prewar industrial building The property will feature an industrial space at the ground floor studio to two-bedroom apartments on the floors above white metal panel bands will run along the floor slabs accentuating the building’s stalwart horizontal bulk and sectioning off a façade consisting alternating black panels and white corrugated metal siding The ground floor will feature floor-to-ceiling storefront windows with gray brick walls in between Amenities will include storage for 49 bikes Green roofs will cover almost the entirety of roof space A number of units will feature street-facing balconies and small decks opening onto the green roof at the second-story courtyard Unlike many of the more centrally located parts of the city Tacony remains largely untouched by the ongoing development boom The structure’s scale makes its proposal all the more significant for the neighborhood as a positive infusion of density to replace a large parking lot The nearly 80-foot-tall building will be the neighborhood’s tallest and largest residential structure and one of the tallest developments of any kind offering sweeping views of the skyline and the steel arch of the nearby Tacony-Palmyra Bridge from the floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floors and from the roof decks The building’s combination of industrial space at the ground floor and residences above makes for an effective transition between the industrial district to the south and the residential neighborhood that extends to the north The Tacony station of the SEPTA regional rail provides a transit link to Center City and beyond Nearby Disston and Russo parks offer ample outdoor recreation space