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On Wednesday, September 9, Southwest CDC representatives Donna Henry and Lorraine Thomas, joined AHCOPA, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Finanta, Media Fellowship House and Ceiba Philadelphia for a Woodland Avnue tour and community development discussion with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon on Woodland Avenue. The meeting was held at Le Mandique restaurant and focused on issues affecting local residents and businesses, including small-business

Do you live in Overbrook Park, Carrol Park, Haddington, Cobbs Creek, Kingsessing, Paschall, or Elmwood Park? Apply to be a Community Greening Liaison! Help shape the future of the Cobbs Creek Park and surrounding watershed. Residents and local organizations will help define the vision, identify sites, and set priorities, rather than receiving a fully baked plan from outside experts. To ensure that the process of creating this plan is community-led and reflects neighbors' vis

Cobbs Creek Trail Extension to Glenmore Ave Complete "Trick or Treat Trails" and Harvest Fest October 24th Upcoming events in Cobbs Creek Watershed: October Calendar Fall Nature Scavenger Hunt

Clean Air Council is teaming up with community partners, Tiny WPA, Amber Art and Design, and Parks and Recreation to build art and play spaces in the vision of community members. The project will create Little Nature Playgrounds at Cobbs Creek Park entrances that aim to increase access and offer play and learning spaces for the community. This project includes three elements, asphalt art murals, little playground structures, and park maps at three locations inside of Cobbs Cr

The Cobbs Creek Ambassadors are planning their fourth annual Cobbs Creek Summer Festival on Saturday, September 12th from 11am-3pm at Thomas Ave & Cobbs Creek Parkway just north of Whitby Ave. The rain date is Sunday, 9/13. The FREE event is full of activities including horseback riding, fishing, bird watching, a bounce house, food, and more!

Pacifico Ford transformed into a hub of community celebration on July 13th, as the dealership partnered with Ford and Major League Baseball (MLB) for an unforgettable block party. Designed to honor America 250 and the All-Star Game, the event drew children from summer camps in the neighborhood, eager to partake in a day filled with fun and camaraderie. The festivities featured an array of carnival-style games, where the children tried their luck at winning prizes.. A variety

Lottie (nee Washington) Bazemore, a devoted community activist, longtime Democratic Committee Person, and cherished Southwest Philadelphia matriarch, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, June 26, 2026. She was 95 years old. For more than 51 years, Mrs. Bazemore faithfully served as Democratic Committee Person for Philadelphia's 51st Ward, 18th Division. Throughout her decades of service, she worked alongside many distinguished Philadelphia leaders, including Ward Leader

Three new Little Nature Playgrounds are planned for Cobbs Creek Park. Designed with input from local residents, these welcoming spaces will encourage children and families to explore the park, learn about its history and ecology, and safely access the trail from nearby neighborhoods. Each playground will feature a combination of nature-inspired elements, colorful asphalt art, and wayfinding maps that help connect visitors to Cobbs Creek Park. Clean Air Council is partnering w

In a significant step towards addressing the critical need for affordable housing, the Southwest Community Development Corporation (CDC) has partnered with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) to rehabilitate five houses in Southwest Philadelphia. The latest house completed is now available for sale to low- and moderate-income families, offering a much-needed opportunity for homeownership in the community. The latest property to hit the market is located on S. Shields St

The Philadelphia Housing Authority has achieved a significant milestone with the approval to begin the demolition of Bartram Village, following an emergency declaration of public safety by Mayor Charelle Parker. Demolition is expected to start in early July 2026. Bartram Village, which consists of 44 buildings dating back to the 1940s, occupies a 22-acre site that will be redeveloped into 514 units of public housing, as part of a $425 million project. Gilbane Building Company

By Zahra Hameed On June 5, applause filled the intersection of 60th Street and Woodland Avenue as residents, business owners, elected officials, and community leaders gathered for a historic moment: the unveiling of the new Africatown sign, officially recognizing Southwest Philadelphia as a vibrant center of African and Caribbean culture. This ceremony marked more than just the installation of a sign; it celebrated decades of history, entrepreneurship, immigration, resilience

Following an EPA grant award received by the School District of Philadelphia for electric buses, two schools—Robert E. Lamberton and Avery D. Harrington, were selected for mural projects to highlight the positive environmental impact of the buses. Each project involves the creation of two murals and an educational campaign centered around the themes of school bus electrification, environmental justice, and community health. The overarching goal is to foster understanding and

That large, iconically bright yellow ring-like structure you might have spotted heading up the Schuylkill River isn’t a mirage—it’s FloatLab, a one-of-a-kind floating public space and waterfront destination, designed by J. Meejin Yoon and Höweler + Yoon Architecture with Bartram's Garden and Mural Arts Philadelphia. Starting this fall, visitors to the Garden and the Bartram’s Mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail will enjoy a rare, water-level view of an urban river in m

What Dr. Minnie Moore-Johnson gave to Philadelphia cannot be measured in awards, titles, or recognition. It can only be measured in the people she fed, the families she carried through hard times, the young leaders she mentored, and the communities she refused to give up on. For decades, “Ms. Minnie,” as the city lovingly knew her, stood as a pillar of hope across Philadelphia. Whether she was helping the homeless find support, guiding ex-offenders toward a second chance, adv

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