The City is moving forward with the 47th Street Repaving and Traffic Safety project, which includes a new 47th street layout. Today, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) introduced legislation to move forward with the project that will improve traffic safety for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists.

The project, which was introduced to the public in 2023 and underwent some revisions, will:

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The 67th annual Spruce Hill Community Association May Fair is set to return to Clark Park (43rd and Chester) on Saturday, May 10.

As always, vendors, local artisans, community groups and organizations seeking to do outreach and promotion are invited to to be part of this popular community event. The application process is currently open for interested vendors and groups. Space is limited and priority will be given to local community organizations and artisans.

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Shepard Recreation Center is another West Philly public space that will be renovated thanks to the City’s Rebuild program. (Photo courtesy of Rebuild PHL).

Rebuild Philadelphia, the City’s program that invests in public spaces, will break ground on a renovation project at century-old Shepard Recreation Center located at 57th and Haverford. This is the latest in a series of renovation projects at local recreation centers, public libraries and playgrounds implemented through this program.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 27, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Community members are welcome to attend.

The $17 million Shepard Rec transformation project will bring major renovations, including:

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A four-year project to improve the Market Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River is expected to begin this week, according to PennDOT. The project will be carried out in phases and will include a complete 14-month closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic.

The initial phase of the project includes construction activities by the general contractor on this project, Buckley & Company Inc., that will focus on extensive utility work to replace numerous electric, gas, water, fiber optic and other lines within the project area.

Further work will include structural work on the bridge. As part of this work, the superstructure on the existing Market Street bridge over Amtrak and I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) will be partially demolished and replaced. The deteriorated deck and sidewalks of the adjacent Market Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River will also be replaced, and the existing four-span Market Street bridge over the Schuylkill River Trail and CSX Railroad on the east side of the river will be replaced with a single-span bridge.

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Spruce Hill Provisions, a small local grocery/general store located near 46th and Baltimore, is closing its doors after less than four years in business. The store, “selling local products wherever possible,” from produce to baked goods to flowers and gifts, opened in 2021 at 4529 Baltimore Avenue.

The last day of operation will be March 31. The owner, Elizabeth Planet, who lives in the neighborhood, has decided to dedicate all her time to nonprofit work.

“Given everything that’s going on at the federal level at the moment, I have decided to devote myself fully to my nonprofit/social impact work,” she posted on Spruce Hill Provision’s Instagram page. “It has been a joy to serve the community we live in and love since 2021, and I’m sorry I can no longer keep it going.”

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West Philly residents have a chance to meet and hear from two Democratic candidates ahead of the May 20 primary election at a District Attorney Candidates Forum at West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, 123 S. 51st St., on Tuesday, March 11, at 5 p.m.

The candidates participating in the forum are:

• The incumbent Larry Krasner who is once again running for District Attorney.

• Patrick Dugan, a former Philadelphia judge.

The forum is organized by the 46th Ward Democrats. Please go here to RSVP.

On May 20, a primary is being held to elect the District Attorney, judges, controller and Judge of Elections. See the full slate here. Because Philadelphia is heavily Democratic, elections in this city are really decided in the primary.