Belfield Avenue
6200 Block of Belfield Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19144
Green City, Clean Waters
The 6200 Block of Belfield Avenue is one of the first three blocks chosen to turn green as a Model Neighborhood in the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City, Clean Waters program. Through this program, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is aiming to change the way the City’s streets, sidewalks and public spaces capture rainwater. In addition to planning for new pipes, PWD will be changing the ways our streets and sidewalks manage rainwater by adding natural elements to them. These can include trees with underground water storage pits, sidewalks with vegetated planters and curbs that “bump out” that are covered with vegetation. The goal is reduce the volume of rainwater flowing to our sewers while also making our neighborhoods more beautiful.
These Model Neighborhoods are providing PWD and its partners an early opportunity to work with communities to raise the level of awareness about green infrastructure, gain public acceptance, and to generate public enthusiasm. In each of these neighborhoods, community/civic partners have guided the outreach and location selection process. Over time, the following elements will be incorporated into potential designs:
- Green streets – including curb bump-outs, tree infiltration trenches, sidewalk planters
- Green homes/businesses – including rain barrels, rain gardens, flow thru planters
- Green public spaces – including sidewalk planters, rain gardens, infiltration beds, vegetated swales, porous paving
- Green schools – including sidewalk planters, rain gardens, infiltration beds, vegetated swales, porous paving
- Green open spaces – including rain gardens, vegetated swales, meadows, infiltration beds
- Green alleys – including downspout disconnects to a green street
Project Partners:
Chew and Belfield Neighborhood Club, Inc.
Philadelphia Water Department
Fairmount Park
Next Great City
Penn Future
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc.
Contact:
Joanne Dahme
Philadelphia Water Department
Joanne.Dahme@phila.gov
