In 2000, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) launched TTF Watershed Partnership in a groundbreaking effort to connect diverse stakeholders as neighbors and stewards of the watershed. The partnership was integral in developing the TTF Integrated Watershed Management Plan, a blueprint for restoring this urban stream into a community asset while addressing the mandated requirements of the federal Clean Water Act and Stormwater Permit Program (MS4).
In 2005, under PWD’s leadership, TTF formally incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization, with a Board of Directors composed of representatives of environmental organizations, community groups, government entities, and other watershed stakeholders.
TTF hired its first full-time Executive Director in 2007 and Julie Slavet, current Executive Director, joined TTF in 2011. Since then, the organization has expanded to a full-time staff of six as well as part-time environmental educators and fitness leaders.
TTF experienced significant growth in 2013, adopting a new Strategic Plan and moving to the Globe Dye Works to be closer to Tacony Creek Park. In 2014, TTF was awarded funding through the William Penn Foundation (WPF) multi-year Delaware Watershed Conservation Program to protect land, restore streams, test innovative approaches in ecologically significant places, and monitor results over time.
TTF is part of the Upstream Suburban Philadelphia cluster. In 2015, TTF became part of the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River (also a WPF initiative), one of 23 environmental education centers committed to collectively building a larger and more inclusive constituency for clean water.
In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized TTF’s efforts with a prestigious Mid-Atlantic Region Environmental Achievement Award. In 2013, the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce named TTF Non-Profit of the Year. In 2014, TTF projects at Abington Junior High School, Cedarbrook Middle School in Cheltenham, and Vernon Park in Philadelphia’s Germantown were recognized by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Certified Wildlife Habitat®, National Audubon Society Bird Habitat, and Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) Community Greening Award.
TTF was recognized by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia in 2017, receiving an Excellence in GSI Award for our Jenkintown Creek Restoration Project. TTF was again recognized for this work with a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2018.
