The Eastwick Bulletin: Week of September 16th

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 Eastwick Bulletin.

This week, we celebrate an Eastwick youth-literacy effort that gave young people space to read, write, and tell their own stories. We also address the continuing need for dependable City response to the neighborhood conditions residents report. The coming two weeks offer opportunities to explore the refuge, build skills at the library, support community wellness, and stand in solidarity at the Philly Hair Healers Walk for Alopecia.

🌟 POSITIVE UPDATE: Eastwick Youth Create Stories Through Comic-Making Workshops

We are encouraged by a recent Eastwick literacy initiative that placed young people at the center of reading, writing, and creative expression. With support from the Neighborhood Literacy Fund, Dr. Sheena Howard brought a series of comic-making workshops to Eastwick Recreation Center. The workshops provided books and 120 blank comic-book pages for young people to fill with characters, dialogue, and stories of their own.

Nearly 60 young people gathered at Eastwick Recreation Center to explore comics and graphic novels through hands-on learning. The program offered a welcoming way to practice reading, writing, storytelling, and self-expression. It also demonstrates the value of investing in learning opportunities that reflect young people’s interests and give them ownership of their voices.

As students continue the school year, EFNC celebrates the educators, families, library staff, recreation partners, and local organizations that help Eastwick children grow as readers and creators.

⚠️ COMMUNITY CONCERN: Consistent Response to Neighborhood Blight and Service Requests

Southwest Philadelphia residents and block captains recently documented roughly 50 examples of neighborhood blight, including abandoned vehicles, vacant properties, illegal dumping, and potholes. The group reported these conditions to the City in early June and said that about half had been addressed by September.

The City reports that its Neighborhood Community Action Centers have resolved 94% of the 16,578 issues reported citywide between October 2024 and August 2026, and 92% of issues in the district that includes Southwest Philadelphia. Yet residents continue to describe the impact of unresolved problems on safety, health, neighborhood pride, and quality of life. Some outstanding items require coordination across agencies and utilities, but residents deserve timely communication and sustained follow-through on every report.

This is not merely a concern about one type of problem. It is a concern about whether all neighborhoods receive reliable attention when residents identify conditions that affect their daily lives. EFNC encourages Eastwick residents to document concerns, submit and track Philly 311 requests, and share patterns that need broader follow-up. Philly 311 accepts reports for potholes, abandoned automobiles, graffiti, illegal dumping, and street-light outages. Requests can be submitted online or through the mobile app, by calling 311 within Philadelphia, or by calling 215-686-8686 from outside the city.

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

⭐ FEATURED EVENT: Sound Bath Experience at John Heinz Refuge

Sunday, September 27, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard

Monique invites Eastwick neighbors to a free Community Sound Bath Experience, a monthly opportunity to pause, relax, restore, and reconnect through the calming sounds of crystal singing bowls and other instruments. The experience is open to all ages, no prior experience is needed, and participants may sit or lie comfortably. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, or cushion.

The next session is scheduled for Sunday, September 27. The flyer also lists upcoming sessions on October 25 and November 15, each from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at John Heinz Refuge. For additional information, contact [email protected] or visit My Healthy Mojo.

Community Event: Philly Hair Healers Walk for Alopecia

Saturday, September 26 | Suffolk Park, off 74th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard

The Philly Hair Healers Walk for Alopecia brings neighbors together for a day of awareness, unity, and empowerment. The walk aims to raise awareness of alopecia, help support people and families affected by it, and build confidence, connection, and hope. Whether you participate, volunteer, donate, sponsor, or simply stand in solidarity, your support helps strengthen this community effort.

Use the registration, sponsor, or donation QR code on the flyer, or visit Philly Hair Healer for event information. Questions may be directed to Alexis Baxter at 267-206-0302 or [email protected].

🌱 FEATURED PLAN-AHEAD EVENT: Ready to Root Volunteer & Tree Distribution Day

Tuesday, October 20 | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center, 700 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19143

PA IPL invites neighbors, tree leaders, and community partners to Ready to Root: Volunteer & Tree Distribution Day, a celebration of community tree leadership and urban forestry. The day will include partner tables, educational activities, a tree walk around the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center, and a limited number of no-cost yard trees for people who did not place an advance order.

Residents interested in volunteering or attending can register here. EFNC is proud to be part of the Southwest Collaborative working to expand tree access and urban-forestry leadership across Southwest Philadelphia.

🚶 COMMUNITY TRAIL WALK: Explore John Heinz Refuge Together

Wednesday, September 16, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Meet at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge entrance on Lindbergh Boulevard

Join neighbors for the Eastwick Community Trail Walk, coordinated with the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, EFNC, and the Clean Air Council. Participants will walk the refuge trails, connect with neighbors, and discuss future trail opportunities. The trails are unpaved and compacted crushed stone, so please wear appropriate footwear and bring a friend.

The group will meet at the John Heinz Refuge entrance on Lindbergh Boulevard, then follow the road or trail to the Visitor Center parking lot to begin together. If weather requires a change, the rain date is Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 PM.

🌳 PLAN AHEAD: Southwest Citywide Yard Tree Giveaway

TreePhilly’s Southwest Citywide Yard Tree Giveaway will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM at Bartram’s Garden, 56th Street Entrance, 3000 S. 56th Street. This citywide event has no zip-code restrictions. Philadelphia residents who will plant a tree in the ground on private property can register now, with registration closing on Wednesday, November 4.

Learn about tree choices, planting and delivery assistance, and volunteer opportunities at TreePhilly’s Fall 2026 Yard Tree Giveaways page.

💡COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Eastwick Library

The Eastwick Library at 6641 Eastwick Avenue offers free programs and resources for children, teens, adults, and families. Find the current schedule on the Eastwick Library calendar.

Report and Track Neighborhood Concerns

Use Philly 311 to report and track concerns such as potholes, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, graffiti, and street-light outages. Requests can be made online, through the mobile app, by calling 311 inside Philadelphia, or by calling 215-686-8686 from outside the city.

Breathe Philly

For City information on air quality, heat, and environmental-health resources, visit Breathe Philly and review the Breathe Philly program resources.

📸 SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

We love seeing Eastwick through your eyes. Send photos of neighborhood gatherings, local nature, community projects, gardens, and everyday moments that show what makes Eastwick special. Selected images may be featured in future Bulletins and EFNC social media. Please email your photo, a short caption, and photographer credit to [email protected].

🗣️ FUTURE TOPICS: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What would you like to see covered in a future Eastwick Bulletin? Please send local concerns, event notices, positive neighborhood news, and resource suggestions to [email protected]. Your input helps EFNC keep this newsletter relevant, practical, and community-centered.

🤝 ABOUT EFNC AND JOIN OUR BOARD

EFNC works with residents and partners to advance environmental justice, community advocacy, safety, and sustainable development in Eastwick. We are seeking community-minded Board members with experience or interest in social media, event planning, computer skills, grant writing, communications, and community outreach. To learn more about EFNC or express interest in serving, visit eastwickfnc.org.

📢 SHARE THE WORD

Please forward this Bulletin to your Eastwick neighbors, friends, and family. Encourage them to subscribe at eastwickfnc.org so that more residents can stay informed and connected.

Until next time,
The EFNC Team