The Eastwick Bulletin: Week of May 27th

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 marks an important moment for our community as we gather for tonight's EFNC Virtual Public Meeting. We also want to highlight an exciting environmental restoration project happening right in our backyard at Cobbs Creek Golf Course. This $9 million investment promises significant ecological and flood mitigation benefits for our region.

Please read on to learn more about this progress and how you can stay engaged with our community

POSITIVE UPDATE: Major Environmental Restoration Underway at Cobbs Creek

Exciting progress is happening at the Cobbs Creek Golf Course, where a comprehensive environmental restoration project is transforming the landscape. Backed by a $9 million investment from the City of Philadelphia, this ambitious initiative is reshaping the area's ecological future while addressing long-standing flood risks that have impacted downstream communities, including Eastwick.

The restoration work, which began in 2023, is now roughly 50 percent complete. The project involves excavating the stream and rerouting its flow to better manage stormwater runoff. A centerpiece of the restoration is the creation of a 25-acre floodplain, which will naturally absorb excess water during heavy rainfall events. To support this natural water management system, the project includes the planting of 49,000 native trees and plants. These native species are specifically chosen to thrive in the local climate and soil conditions, providing long-term ecological benefits.

This restoration represents a significant investment in green infrastructure and natural flood mitigation. Unlike traditional concrete and engineering solutions, this approach works with nature to reduce flooding while simultaneously improving habitat for wildlife and enhancing the overall environmental quality of the area. As this project continues to completion, EFNC will monitor its progress and advocate for similar green infrastructure solutions throughout Southwest Philadelphia.

COMMUNITY CONCERN: Flood Monitoring is Not Enough

We are encouraged that the City has taken steps to launch the real-time flood monitoring system for Eastwick. The installation of flood gauges and cameras provides residents with valuable early warning data accessible at flood-monitoring.phila.gov. This information can help residents make critical decisions during flood events.

However, EFNC wants to be clear: monitoring systems alone do not prevent flooding. They do not protect our homes, our possessions, or our peace of mind. Monitoring is a tool for managing a crisis, not a solution to the crisis itself. We remain steadfast in our demand for comprehensive, structural flood mitigation solutions that will permanently protect Eastwick residents. The City must move beyond baby steps and commit to the kind of large-scale infrastructure investments that will truly make our community safe from flooding.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: EFNC Virtual Public Meeting

Don't miss our EFNC Virtual Public Meeting happening tonight. This is your opportunity to voice your concerns, ask questions, and participate in our collective advocacy efforts.

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

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.

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 admin@eastwickfnc.org 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.

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 EFNC AND JOIN OUR BOARD

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