The Eastwick Bulletin: Week of May 20th

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 another week in Eastwick! This week, we have major news regarding flood preparedness that will directly impact how our community responds to severe weather. The City has officially launched a new real-time flood monitoring system for Eastwick, a project that has been six years in the making. We also want to draw your attention to our upcoming EFNC Virtual Public Meeting on May 27th, where we will discuss critical neighborhood issues including water quality, illegal dumping, and city property maintenance. Please read on for important updates and resources to keep you and your family safe and informed. 

POSITIVE UPDATE: New Real-Time Flood Monitoring System Launched in Eastwick

We are thrilled to announce that the City's Office of Emergency Management officially launched a new real-time flood monitoring system for Eastwick on Saturday, May 11th. This critical infrastructure project uses advanced flood gauges and cameras to detect rainfall and water levels, providing residents with immediate notifications when flood risks rise.

For decades, Eastwick residents have faced the anxiety of unpredictable flooding from Cobbs and Darby creeks. This new system aims to ease that uncertainty. Flood gauges have been installed at key locations, including Saturn Place, the South 84th Street Bridge, and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, cameras are now positioned at three residential locations to visually monitor potential rising floodwaters.

Residents can access this real-time data directly on their smartphones or computers by visiting flood-monitoring.phila.gov. As Eastwick community advocate Brenda Whitfield noted, this system gives residents the crucial time needed to move vehicles, secure valuables, and assist vulnerable neighbors before floodwaters crest. This new technology, combined with the Eastwick Alerts system launched in 2024, represents a significant victory for our community's persistent advocacy for better flood protection.

COMMUNITY CONCERN: Neighborhood Maintenance and Environmental Justice 

While we celebrate progress on flood monitoring, EFNC remains deeply concerned about ongoing environmental justice and quality-of-life issues in Southwest Philadelphia. As highlighted in our upcoming Community Spotlight meeting, residents continue to struggle with illegal dumpsites, questionable drinking water quality, and neglected city-owned properties.

We frequently hear from neighbors who have submitted multiple complaints to Philly 311 regarding dead trees and overgrown grass on city property, only to experience long delays before any action is taken. Illegal dumping also remains a persistent blight on our community, threatening public health and neighborhood pride. Furthermore, with the Philadelphia Water Department estimating that 1 in 20 city properties may have lead service lines, ensuring safe drinking water is a top priority for our residents.

EFNC is committed to holding city agencies accountable for these issues. We encourage all residents to continue reporting problems to Philly 311 and to join our upcoming public meeting to strategize on how we can demand faster response times and better maintenance for our neighborhood.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: EFNC Virtual Public Meeting 

Mark your calendars! EFNC is hosting a crucial Virtual Public Meeting next week. We will be discussing the pressing issues mentioned above and providing updates on our ongoing advocacy efforts. Your voice is essential to our collective power.

Meeting Details: 
• Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026  
• Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM 
• Platform: Microsoft Teams 
• Meeting ID: 230 735 093 096 183 
• Passcode: PJ7rg2aR 
• Join Link: Click here to join the meeting

Topics of Discussion: 
• Drinking water quality and Philadelphia Water Department representation
• Strategies to combat illegal dumpsites in our neighborhood 
• Addressing delayed maintenance on city-owned property (dead trees, overgrown grass) • Civic engagement: Knowing your elected representatives and district boundaries

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: Show the World the Real Eastwick 

We see the pictures of Eastwick's flooded streets, sandbags lining garages, and illegal dumping. These images tell an important part of our story, but they are not the whole story. Eastwick is a wonderful community to live in and raise a family, just 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.

We have readers of this newsletter who live outside our community and don't see that side of Eastwick. Let's show them the real Eastwick. Send us your photos of daily life, community celebrations, beautiful gardens, neighborhood gatherings, and all the moments that make our community special. Help us tell the complete story of who we are.

How to Submit: Email your photos to [email protected] with a brief caption describing the image. Please include your name and permission to publish your photo in our newsletter and on our social media pages.

FUTURE TOPICS: What Would You Like to Learn About? 

We want to make sure The Eastwick Bulletin covers the topics that matter most to you. What issues are you concerned about? What positive developments would you like to celebrate? What resources or information would be helpful for your family and neighbors?

Please send us your suggestions for future newsletter topics. You can reply to this email or contact us through our website at eastwickfnc.org. Your voice helps shape our coverage and ensures we are addressing the issues that matter most to our community.

EASTWICK FLOOD COLLABORATION PROJECT 

The Eastwick Flood Collaboration wants to hear from residents about their recovery experiences from Tropical Storm Isaias. As a follow-up to the Eastwick Unmet Needs Roundtable (EUNR), Lutheran Congregational Services is connecting with disaster survivors to document stories of resilience, community relationships, and local strengths.

CELEBRATE WITH US: A Soil to Soul Celebration

Join us on Saturday, May 30th, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center (700 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19143) for the Black Farmers Co-Op's 4th Anniversary Celebration. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate food sovereignty, support Black farmers, and enjoy fresh organic produce, food trucks, vendors, and activities for the whole family.

Featuring fresh organic fruits and vegetables with no pesticides and no GMOs, this celebration highlights the importance of local food systems and community-supported agriculture in Southwest Philadelphia.

For more information, visit blackfarmerscoop.org or follow The Black Farmers Co-Op on social media.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES: Sankofa Community Farm

Looking to get your hands dirty and grow your own fresh produce? The Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram's Garden is currently accepting new applicants for their 2026 community garden program! Located right here in Southwest Philadelphia, the farm promotes food sovereignty and urban agriculture. Having your own garden plot is a wonderful way to connect with nature, meet your neighbors, and enjoy healthy, homegrown food. Visit the Bartram's Garden website or their social media pages to apply for a plot for the 2026 growing season.

UPCOMING EVENTS:  Mark Your Calendar

Here is a look at what is happening in and around Eastwick over the next two weeks:

SHARE THE WORD

Enjoy these updates? Tell your friends and neighbors! They can subscribe to The Eastwick Bulletin here: Subscribe to our newsletter

KNOW YOUR RESOURCES

Whether you need help with flooding, environmental concerns, or connecting to city services, these contacts are here for you:

ABOUT THE EASTWICK FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS COALITION

The Eastwick Friends and Neighbors (EFNC) brings together community stakeholders to plan and advocate for an environmentally, economically, and socially just Eastwick. We believe that every resident deserves a safe, healthy, and thriving neighborhood, and we work alongside our neighbors, partner organizations, and city agencies to make that vision a reality.

Join the EFNC Board: We are actively seeking passionate community members to join our Board of Directors. We are particularly looking for volunteers with the following skill sets:

•Social Media and Digital Communications
•Event Planning and Community Organizing
•Computer Skills and Data Management
•Grant Writing and Fundraising
•Communications and Public Relations
•Community Outreach and Engagement

If you are interested in serving on the EFNC Board or would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at eastwickfnc.org.

Until next time,
The EFNC Team