Photo: Some of the trash and heavy debris dumped in or near Darby Creek. A major clean-up took place April 20 with the help of Darby Creek Valley Association, Darby Borough, and the Phila. Water Department, but continuing action is needed to identify and thwart illegal dumpers.
The clean-up of the banks of Darby Creek by members and friends of Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) and associated City agencies this year produced outstanding results: Centered near the historic Blue Bell Tavern at Woodland and Island Avenue and on the adjacent Darby side in Delaware County some 26 tons of debris and trash were picked up from the muddy river banks and appropriately disposed of.
On the Philadelphia side, the effort received indispensable assistance from Maria Horowitz and the dedicated crew from Philadelphia Water Department who manned the heavy equipment. Over in Darby, special thanks were extended to Darby Borough Manager Mark Possenti and all the local residents and other volunteers that came out to help.
Included in the trash removed from the Darby and Cobbs creeks more than 380 tires. While this is quite an achievement, there is still a lot more there. Accordingly, DCVA is working together with Darby Borough and other organizations to find funding to do a further full clean up and remediation of the riparian buffer. While the trash needs to be removed first, cameras should be set up to stop any new dumping.
Nearby residents were thrilled to have the site cleaned up and said they have been complaining for years. Unfortunately, people frequently come at night to dump at that location. Residents contend that it is not they that are dumping but people and businesses from beyond the immediate community.
For more information about forthcoming volunteer and donation opportunities, visit www.dcva.org
Susan Miller is the director of the Darby Creek Valley Association and can be reached at director@dcva.org or by phone at 484-222-2502.
Historian John Haigis also contributed to this article.
