HOW IT WORKS
The Parks Department In Queen Village, an array of agencies, nonprofits, and private companies keep our neighborhood public spaces clean and green. By Noah Swistak
E
ver find yourself wondering about a specific parcel in Queen Village— whether it be along Front Street, adjacent to I-95, or along Delaware Avenue—and thinking, “Who maintains that? Who’s responsible for that particular piece of land?” You’re not alone! A number of public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and contracted companies are responsible for upkeep throughout the eastern areas of the neighborhood. Let’s review a few of the different entities that provide vital services on some of Queen Village’s public parcels. The publicly funded nonprofit Interstate Land Management Corporation (ILMC) maintains parcels along a stretch of I-95 between the Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges. If a piece of land abuts or is located directly over or under the highway, it’s likely ILMC oversees its landscaping and upkeep. The organization coordinates with civic groups to identify potential improvements to lighting, painting, and sidewalks. In Queen Village, ILMC’s work includes mowing and removing litter from green spaces on either side of the Queen Street tunnel and tending to vegetation along the east side of Front Street. Additionally, as is the case with other parking lots along the I-95 corridor, the group is the lessor of the QVNA Community Lot between Front Street and Water Street.
QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ WINTER 2022
The Delaware River Trail.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) oversees major planning and construction projects involving the highway, including the long-planned cap of I-95 and subsequent park development near Penn’s Landing. Recent delays have pushed that project’s groundbreaking to 2023. While PennDOT owns the parcels adjacent to its highways, certain types of upkeep are contracted to ILMC. This model is not consistent statewide, and, in fact, it’s PennDOT personnel who mow grass and control vegetation alongside many Pennsylvania state highways.
The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) designs, develops, and manages projects along a six-mile stretch of the riverfront that includes Queen Village. The group is currently overseeing two projects with substantial direct impact to the neighborhood: the Delaware River Trail and the Washington Avenue Connector. Implementation has been underway on the former for some time now, with improvements already evident along Delaware Avenue. When it comes to graffiti removal, the city’s Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) is often the most effective outlet for providing a prompt response. Citywide, CLIP’s Graffiti Abatement Team has removed graffiti from over one million properties and street fixtures and addresses most requests within three to four days. QVNA advocates for neighbors by maintaining relationships with all of these organizations, including board member representation on the Community Coalition of Interstate Management (which works directly with ILMC) and the Central Delaware Advocacy Group (which advances implementation of DRWC’s Plan for the Central Delaware). We look forward to continued partnerships with these groups and more as we foster clean, safe, and enjoyable public spaces for residents of Queen Village. ■
