Transforming Places Building a Watershed Community

Nature Springs Back

Green stormwater management projects are transformational. At Conklin Pool and Recreation Center in Cheltenham, what was once a concrete pipe is now a meandering stream surrounded by over 150 native trees and 500 perennials. And what was once 7,500 square feet of turf grass is now a natural meadow.

This project manages 42 acres of stormwater to improve the health of this important headwater creek. Completed in 2020, this restoration was made possible with funding from Montgomery County Planning Commission and a Delaware River Restoration Fund grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Many volunteers took part in the transformation, collaborating during a time of isolation to don masks and prepare the site. Volunteer days are an opportunity to make new friends, get outside, learn about the history and importance of the watershed, and make a difference.

We are already seeing a dramatic difference: consistent creek baseflow and flourishing wildlife. Visitors observe blooming flowers, beautiful butterflies, singing birds, and jumping frogs. The creek slows the rush of polluted water so it can disperse on the adjacent meadow and floodplain where pollutants and debris can settle out before reaching the creeks.

The transformation has been so significant that it inspired a community engagement opportunity to give the creek a new name that fits its new important role in contributing to natural beauty, environmental education and sustainability. Soon you’ll hear, “Meet me at….”

Rain It In: Abington School Projects

We added two rain gardens to an existing creekside buffer that intercept runoff from both Abington Junior and Senior High School roadways to protect East Baeder Creek, a tributary that flows into Tookany Creek. These will manage about a half an acre of stormwater. The restoration project, completed in November 2021, was made possible by a Growing Greener Plus grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection. Restoration like this requires upkeep, which is why we created Creek Care Days to remove invasive plants and trash, repair deer fences, and add new plantings at our sites. Volunteers help us care for our rain gardens and creekside buffers all across our watershed.

Friends Helping Friends

Volunteer days are opportunities to connect around a love for the natural wonders of the watershed and to play a direct role in protecting habitats, streams, and public access to nature.

A group from the American Society of Civil Engineers Young Member Forum worked together in an upland area to plant a mixture of understory trees to retain soils in areas of severe erosion and plant loss caused by the construction of an illegal pump track.

A TreeVitalize grant provided the materials and plants. Thanks to the Scattergood Foundation for supporting maintenance of this critical natural area.

Science Shakes Things Up

You might daydream about bringing the Atlantic Ocean closer, but the discovery that some local streams are now as salty—or even saltier— as the ocean because of road salt runoff won't make you happy.

We have been working with our Streamkeepers to raise concerns about salinity levels in our creeks and oversalting during winter storms. When salt levels increase, it negatively affects soil, plants, groundwater, and drinking water. Salt levels remain high even in summer! Keeping drivers safe on wintry roads and protecting the watershed are not mutually exclusive.

TTF Streamkeeper Geoffrey Selling testified before Philadelphia City Council, sharing his monitoring studies. His convincing testimony raised critical concerns about oversalting, including its impact on infrastructure and drinking water: elevated salt levels in water can cause high blood pressure and heart disease. Check out our “Save Our Streams From Road Salt” resource on our website to learn about some practical steps for residents, property owners, and communities.

Happy Trails

One of the reasons we care about trails is that they bring people closer to water. The Circuit is a network of 300+ miles of trails (with more on the way) that connect residents and visitors across the region. After a year and a half, a robust public outreach campaign, multiple revisions and updates, and hundreds of hours spent analyzing and designing preferred alignments, “The Tookany Creek Trail Feasibility Study: Cheltenham Ave to High School Road in Cheltenham Township” was completed and published in April 2021.

There is still a long way to go and the trail will be built one piece at a time, but this is a huge step toward connecting Cheltenham to Tacony Creek Park and the Delaware River.

14,000 Views

Virtual Tours Are a Hit

Find Your Way

While some visitors like to rove around following their own whimsy, we have made it easier to explore Tacony Creek Park with new maps available in English and Spanish posted in strategic locations. We have handed out 1,000s of maps to neighbors to invite them to find their favorite spots to watch birds or enjoy a trail mural. The maps highlight new aspects of the park like the connection under Roosevelt Boulevard.