Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding West Fairmount Park have a chance to help shape the future of the park and the Centennial District. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is currently working with the Fairmount Park Conservancy, The Mann Center, Philadelphia Zoo, and the Please Touch Museum on a new planning initiative which includes improvements of the park experience for visitors and residents.

A “community-led framework for how to be more inclusive and fair in future park investments”  used in the planning process.

As the plan affects communities it needs to be developed with communities. Therefore, The Centennial Subdistrict Design Plan team is looking for paid Community Ambassadors to be a part of the process.

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The Streets Department’s 2023 Leaf Recycling Program begins on Monday, Nov. 6 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 16. The program is one of several services provided by the Streets Department that helps reduce the amount of materials that reach the waste stream.

During the six-week program, bagged leaf drop-off will be offered citywide at various locations. West Philadelphia residents can drop off bagged leaves at 54th & Woodbine Avenue or 43rd & Powelton Avenue on the following Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

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Another great West Philly tradition, the Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, is returning Saturday, Oct. 28. The event was postponed by one week due to rain last Saturday. As always, the parade will feature giant puppets, created by Spiral Q artists and community volunteers. Here are some more details about this year’s event.

The line-up begins at Noon near The Paul Robeson House (50th and Walnut). The parade departs at 1 p.m. and proceeds to Clark Park at 45th and Kingsessing (see the map below), where performances will take place starting at approximately 2:15 p.m.

The family-friendy event, which promotes diversity, civic engagement and creativity, has been held since late 1990’s. Besides giant puppets, it features drumlines and banners. Last year, 43 community groups and over 600 people joined the parade and celebration, according to the longtime event organizer, Spiral Q, a West Philly-based arts organization.

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Over the past year, the Friends of Clark Park has been working on a new master plan that will provide the outline for future park development and investments. Next Saturday, they will present the final draft of the plan to the community (the event has been postponed due to rain in the forecast for October 14).

Everyone who is involved with the park in any way and interested in its future, is invited to Clark Park Farmers Market at 43rd and Chester on October 21 to learn more about the plan and provide feedback.

The plan has been developed in collaboration with University City District and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s Office. Community members were also actively involved in the plan development process, with several community meetings and online surveys taking place since last year. The final draft of the Master Plan includes revisions made based on prior community feedback.

Clark Park Farmers Market operates from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and you can stop by anytime during these hours. Jamie Gauthier will also be there, according to the Friends report. For some info on why Clark Park needs a master plan and what previous master plans included, click here.

The West Philly Tool Library Fall sale returns Saturday, Oct. 14. It will feature a “ton of cool tools” available for a bargain. Community members are invited to bring friends and family to discover all kinds of tools at low prices. You do not need to be a member to access the sale. Cash, credit card and other forms of payment are accepted.

The sale will kick off at 9 a.m. (see the flyer for more details). In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled (check out the Tool Library’s Facebook page for updates).

The West Philly Tool Library is also offering volunteer opportunities. They’re always looking for local people who love tools, to assist in our various cataloging and repair work as well as supporting fun events like their tool sales. Fill out this form and they will get in touch with you.

And last but not least, the Tool Library has also been offering various workshops for community members. Their next workshop, Electrical 102, which is part of the Tiny Model Home series, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21. There will be two sessions, and registration for both is still open. More info about this and other workshops is available here.

The Community Grocer (TCG), a nonprofit food justice organization launched last year by two University of Pennsylvania alumni, broke ground on first store yesterday, which is located in Cobbs Creek.

The organization, co-founded by Alexandre Imbot and Eli Moraru, purchased a corner storefront at 60th St. and Walton Ave. about nine months ago, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian, with a goal to transform it into a new-concept grocery corner store that will serve the local community.

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) participated in the groundbreaking.

“Today we broke ground on The Community Grocer’s store in Cobbs Creek!” she later posted on her Twitter (X) page. “Cobbs Creek is a food desert, meaning residents struggle to access nutritious meals. I’m grateful to TCG for combatting food insecurity by providing affordable, healthy, culturally relevant, and delicious food.”

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