The Eastwick Bulletin: Week of June 24th

Serving the residents and neighbors of Eastwick, Southwest Philadelphia, since our founding. The Eastwick Bulletin is published weekly to keep our community informed, connected, and empowered.

Welcome to this week's edition of The Eastwick Bulletin!

As we head into late June, the entire Philadelphia region is buzzing with excitement for America's 250th birthday celebrations. This week, we're highlighting the incredible free events and festivities available to Eastwick residents, while also addressing an important infrastructure concern that impacts our daily lives.

🌟 POSITIVE UPDATE: Celebrating America's 250th Birthday with Free Family Fun

The historic "Ring It On!" campaign for America's 250th anniversary is officially underway, and the Wawa Welcome America festival has transformed into a spectacular 16-day celebration running through July 4th. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for Eastwick families to participate in world-class, free entertainment right in our own city.

This year's extended festival offers something for everyone, with a strong focus on community accessibility. Highlights for the upcoming week include the U.S. Army Band Pershing's Own Concert followed by a magnificent fireworks display on June 28th at the Delaware River Waterfront. Throughout the city, families can participate in interactive activities, dance performances, and creative workshops designed specifically for children.

Additionally, as part of the celebration, twenty large replica Liberty Bells have been placed throughout Philadelphia for families to discover. These installations serve as interactive history lessons and perfect photo opportunities. EFNC encourages all residents to take advantage of these historic, free celebrations that bring our broader Philadelphia community together.

⚠️ COMMUNITY CONCERN: Army Corps Abandons 15-Foot Levee Plan—What's Next for Eastwick Flood Protection?

In a significant development for Eastwick's long-term flood resilience strategy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scrapped its original plan to build a 15-foot earthen levee along Cobbs Creek within Eastwick Regional Park. This decision, announced in March 2026, represents a major shift in how federal agencies approach flood protection in our neighborhood.

The original levee proposal, unveiled in 2023 after years of study, would have been 1,400 feet long and cost approximately $13 million. While the Corps determined it would reduce flood damage by an average of $4 million annually, the plan had a critical flaw: it would have pushed floodwaters downstream, causing additional flooding for up to 328 structures in neighboring Delaware County. Despite efforts to redesign the project, the Army Corps could not eliminate this induced flooding problem.

Instead of the 15-foot levee, the Army Corps is now investigating an 8-foot alternative design. However, this lower levee would provide significantly less protection. While the original design would have protected against 100-year floods like Hurricane Floyd (1999) and Hurricane Irene (2011), the 8-foot design would only protect against smaller, more frequent five-year floods like Tropical Storm Isaias (2020). Even this reduced design may cause some flooding in nearby areas, and more analysis is needed before any final recommendation.

The soonest construction could begin on any levee project is 2030, and the project would still need to compete for federal funding and require the city to raise approximately 35% of the total cost.

What This Means for Eastwick: EFNC recognizes that the levee solution—whether 15 feet or 8 feet—is not a silver bullet. The City's Eastwick Flood Resilience Strategy, expected to be released soon, includes seven potential solutions: the levee (in its new form), nature-based stormwater management projects, voluntary home buyouts, and other measures. Voluntary buyouts could potentially be accomplished within five years, offering residents a choice about their future in the neighborhood.

EFNC is committed to ensuring that whatever flood protection strategy is ultimately adopted, it prioritizes the voices and needs of Eastwick residents. We will continue to advocate for comprehensive, equitable solutions that do not simply move the problem elsewhere.

Addressing Illegal Dumping Through Data-Driven Solutions

While long-term flood resilience strategies are critical, EFNC is also focused on immediate quality-of-life concerns affecting our neighborhood. Clean Philly Now and Trash Academy are leading a data-driven mapping initiative to identify, document, and ultimately eliminate legacy dumping sites across Eastwick and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.

This innovative project combines on-the-ground community reporting with digital mapping tools to pinpoint chronic illegal dumping locations, track patterns over time, and prioritize cleanup and enforcement. Through this citywide map, Trash Academy seeks to bridge the gap between data and community experience—creating a shared resource that supports transparency, targeted solutions, and a deeper understanding of environmental burdens carried by residents.

In Eastwick, this effort is especially critical due to the intersection of illegal dumping, flooding, and environmental justice concerns. When dumping sites accumulate debris and contaminants, they exacerbate flooding risks and degrade our natural environment. EFNC will be sharing more updated information about citywide dumpsite mapping events before September. Stay tuned for opportunities to participate in documenting and addressing this persistent challenge in our community.

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

💡 COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Philly 311 Non-Emergency Services For issues regarding illegal dumping, overgrown vacant lots, or abandoned vehicles, residents are encouraged to use the Philly311 system. You can submit requests via the Philly311 mobile app, online portal, or by calling 3-1-1.

SEPTA Customer Service To report damaged transit shelters, lighting issues, or other station maintenance concerns, contact SEPTA Customer Service at (215) 580-7800 or through their online reporting portal.

Eastwick Flood Collaboration Project EFNC is proud to be a collaborative partner in this important initiative. Are you a survivor of Tropical Storm Isaias? Lutheran Congregational Services and Rutgers University are collaborating to document recovery stories and identify ongoing needs in Eastwick. Your voice matters in shaping future resilience strategies.

🗣️ FUTURE TOPICS: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What other topics would you like to learn about in The Eastwick Bulletin? Whether it's updates on specific infrastructure projects, profiles of community leaders, or deep dives into local history, send your suggestions to [email protected]. .

📸 SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

We see the pictures of Eastwick's flooded streets, sandbags lining garages, and illegal dumping. But Eastwick is a wonderful community to live in and raise a family in, like so many others across the country. People go to work, kids go to school. Holiday decorations get hung and taken down. Springtime flowers bloom and fall leaves get raked. Kids learn to ride bikes and go off to youth sports.

Let's show the world the real Eastwick! Send in pictures of the Eastwick you want the World to know. Email your photos to [email protected] with a brief description, and we may feature them in an upcoming newsletter.

📢 SHARE THE WORD

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🤝 ABOUT EFNC AND JOIN OUR BOARDD

The Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition (EFNC) brings together community stakeholders to advocate for an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable future for Eastwick.

We are currently seeking passionate residents to join the EFNC Board! If you want to make a tangible difference in your community, we need your expertise. We are particularly looking for individuals with skills in:

• Social Media and Digital Communications

• Event Planning and Community Organizing

• Computer Skills and Data Management

• Grant Writing and Fundraising

• Communications and Public Relations

Interested in getting involved? Contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at eastwickfnc.org.

Until next time,
The EFNC Team