February 2014
Dear Watershed Friends:
 
Partnerships Across the Watershed!
When you check out our Upcoming Events, you'll notice that we're co-sponsoring programs with Briar Bush Nature Center, Cheltenham Township Parks & Recreation, and Primex Garden Center. We take being a "partnership" across our watershed very seriously, and are committed to collaborating and supporting programs that meet our goal of improving the health of our watershed through education and stewardship.
 
Let us know if you'd like to work with us to develop or promote a watershed education or improvement project.
January Board meeting

New Board Structure & Composition 
As part of our newly adopted Strategic Plan, we will be changing our Board membership and structure to strengthen funding, partnerships, and governance. Our Board has been critical to the establishment and growth of TTF, but it's time to develop a leaner, mission-oriented, representative group to lead us through the next phase. Special thanks to Board President Gerry Kaufman and committee members Ian Litwin (Philadelphia City Planning Commission), Beth Pilling (Montgomery County Planning Commission) and Sarah Wu (Mayor's Office of Sustainability) for their hard work and commitment to this process and our organizational health.
 
If you're interested in learning more about serving on the TTF Board, contact me at julie@ttfwatershed.org.

Best,
Julie
DO YOU "LIKE" TTF? JOIN TAP!
We're so excited to announce the establishment of 
TAP: TTF Advocacy Partners!
 
This new group will engage our supporters and friends through regular meet & mingle events. TAP members will help TTF spread the word about ways to support our organization and programs, particularly our volunteer activities. TAP will also give us a way to thank our regular volunteers with fun, social offerings. 
 
Interested in joining TAP? We're hosting our first social on February 20, so help spread the word and come out and meet TTF staff and friends! 
TACONY CREEK PARK: THE WORD ON THE TRAIL 
Engine 61 at MLK Day cleanup!
 
We started the year off right with a big
Martin Luther King Day cleanup in Tacony Creek Park (TCP) at the new Rorer and Roosevelt Boulevard gateway. Over 120 volunteers removed 100 bags of trash and recyclables, plus 30 bags of invasive plants. Volunteers came from across our region and across the street! Learn more about the day here.

 

Join us to take part in the Audubon Society's Great Backyard Bird Count on February 15! Read about our last successful bird walk in TCP here -- we saw 37 species of birds!
 
PWD
Notice some large equipment at Adams Avenue and Crescentville Road at the beginning of Tacony Creek Park? This Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) sewer cleaning and lining project is about 50% complete in this area. The next step will clean the sewer from Adams to Rising Sun Avenue, which will take about one and a half months. This project is part of PWD's efforts to improve infrastructure and protect our creeks! 
 
TTF is working with The Philadelphia Parks Alliance on a TCP "ParkStories: Voices" piece.This series of digital stories demonstrates the unique and powerful role of parks and recreation in the lives of the people of Philadelphia. We want to hear from you! If you're interested in telling us your story, contact brynn@ttfwatershed.org.
 
As you can see, we are committed to working with lots of partners to bring fun, educational programs to Tacony Creek Park. Let us know your ideas, keep in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter, and visit Tacony Creek Park!
GREEN PARKS PROJECTS IN TTF WATERSHED
Kemble & Wister Woods Parks have both been selected by the Philadelphia Water Department to host rain gardens to help manage stormwater runoff in their respective neighborhoods. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring of 2014. During construction, portions of each park will be closed temporarily.
A BIG FACT ABOUT TINY STREAMS
TRAIL NEWS: THE CIRCUIT & ARCADIA UNIVERSITY 
Access to our creeks along trails by walkers and bikers is critical to improving our watershed parks and waterways!
 
The Circuit

TTF & Communities Support
The Circuit

TTF is proud to support The Circuit Campaign to secure $10 million for trail planning, design and construction. After hosting community meetings about The Circuit in both Philadelphia and Cheltenham, we met with Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards, who sits on the Board of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), to ask for her leadership in approving an allocation of $10 million to the Region Trail Fund to keep building out The Circuit. 

  

We're so pleased that Cheltenham Township and Jenkintown Borough, two of the governing Boards of our partnership municipalities, adopted resolutions supporting Circuit funding. These communities have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability!

  

The Circuit Coalition will be present at the DVRPC Board meeting this month to request support for this funding level. Be part of this important effort by adding your name to the Campaign here.

PECO Grant Connects Town & Gown
 
 
PECO recently awarded a grant through its Green Region Open Space Program to support the construction of a 700 foot trail.This porous trail will connect the campus parking lot via a new pedestrian foot bridge over one of the Tookany Creek's tributaries, to the intersection of Church and Waverly Roads.This trail segment will connect Arcadia University to to the main stem of the planned Cresheim Trail, which will ultimately provide a connection to both Fort Washington State Park and Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia.
 
Pictured: Representatives from Cheltenham Township and PECO present a check to Arcadia University officials for this project. 

Sustainable Cheltenham
MEET OUR TTF INTERNS
TTF intern Emily working hard!
This winter, TTF is hosting three interns who all share a commitment to, as well as a background in Environmental Studies. Emily and Ryan are new, while Emma is a TTF veteran. Our thanks to Penn State, Rowan University, and Arcadia University for preparing and inspiring these young environmentalists! Read more about these interns here.

SAVE THE DATES! 

Thurs., April 3 & Sat., April 5: 
Managing Rainfall: TTF Stormwater Project Tours
 

Our spring series of Stormwater Tours will focus on sites in Montgomery County. Come see the innovative ways we are protecting our streams and capturing stormwater through Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). Project experts will take us step-by-step through construction and maintenance, with guidebooks and online resources provided. Read about our fall tours here.  


Sunday, April 13: Healthy Trails 5k Walk/Run
The second annual Healthy Trails 5K run/walk in Tacony Creek Park will start and finish on the Friends Hospital campus. This event is on a fully paved, stroller and pet friendly trail through the park. Mark the date in your calendar and make sure to bring the whole family to participate!

The third annual Watershed Milestones Award Ceremony & Reception will honor people, organizations, public agencies, and companies whose efforts to improve and protect the TTF watershed deserve special recognition. Read about last year's ceremony, think about who you'd like to nominate for an award, and stay tuned for our Watershed Milestones Call for Nominations! 
UPCOMING EVENTSUpcoming
Master Gardener Marc Radell brings 30 years of ecological garden experience with a certified NWF Wildlife Habitat he calls home. Learn how to create a habitat for birds, butterflies & other wildlife in your backyard. No yard is too small! You must register with advance payment. Cost: $10; includes $5 gift card. TTF will be there too, to provide an introduction and watershed resources!
 
DATE: Saturday, February 8 
PLACE: Primex Garden Center, 435 West Glenside Avenue, Glenside 19038
CONTACT:  Register by calling 215.887.7500
Join us for our third annual FREE Community Service Networking Breakfast! We'll share coffee and breakfast (provided by Whole Foods Market Jenkintown) network with volunteer coordinators and community leaders, and learn about upcoming TTF projects and service opportunities. Learn about Green Infrastructure and the Urban Waters program from Emma Melvin of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
 
DATE: Tuesday, February 11
TIME: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PLACE: Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia 19124
CONTACT:  Alix Howard at 215.744.1853 or alix@ttfwatershed.org

 
Join us on a FREE walk through Tacony Creek Park to look for birds wintering in Philadelphia. Open to all -- you just need an interest in learning about our fine feathered friends. Expect some good bird spotting (woodpeckers, chickadees, hawks, oh my!) while enjoying lovely undiscovered Tacony Creek Park. This event is a part of the Audubon Society's Great Backyard Bird Count. Donuts, hot cocoa, and binoculars will be provided. Don't forget to dress warmly!

DATE: Saturday, February 15
TIME:10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
PLACE:  I St. & Ramona Ave., Philadelphia, 19124
CONTACT: Alex Cooper at 215.744.1853 or cooper@ttfwatershed.org 
 
Don't miss this Rain Garden lecture by Matt Reale of Aqua Reale.com. Building a rain garden (or a few rain gardens) in your own backyard is probably the easiest and most cost efficient thing you can do to reduce your contribution to stormwater pollution. When native plants are used it also creates a low maintenance habitat for wildlife. TTF will be there too, to provide an introduction and watershed resources!
 
DATE: Saturday, February 15
TIME: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
PLACE:  Primex Garden Center, 435 West Glenside Ave., Glenside 19038
CONTACT: Register by calling 215.887.7500

 

MUNICIPAL STORMWATER WORKSHOP
Municipal officials, and parks and facility personnel are invited to attend this stormwater workshop. Support compliance with PA General Permit 13, Municipal Seperate Sewer System (MS4) Permit and better protect waterways. Learn about Best Management Practices to control water pollution, pollution prevention good housekeeping, and state-of-art stormwater management. FREE and open to Public Officials. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Watershed Alliance of SE PA, and Eastern Delaware County Stormwater Collaborative, and TTF.

 

DATE: Thursday, February 20
TIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
PLACE: Community Recreation & Environmental Center, 9000 Parkview Drive, Haverford 19041
CONTACT: RSVP to Liz Feinberg at lizfeinberg.calvan@verizon.net

 

See how maple syrup and other maple products are made. Cost: $5, register at the Rowland/La Mott Community Centers or pay on the day of the event -- cash payments only. Environmental Educator Judith Gratz, who has been making maple syrup for 30 years, will lead! Dress warmly,and wear boots -- it may be cold or muddy!

 
DATE: Saturday, February 22
TIME: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
PLACE:  High School Park, 7910 Montgomery Avenue, Elkins Park 19027
CONTACT: Judith Gratz at 215.896.7804

  

TTF will join our Briar Bush Nature Center (BBNC) friends for their Birding 101 series -- birding basics: several ways to start identifying bird; use of binoculars, how to attract birds to your yard so that you can learn the most local species. Led by Mark Fallon, Briar Bush naturalist plus guest speakers, including a backyard feeder expert, a raptor specialist, and a migratory bird specialist. We will take a few field trips to see raptors, migratory waterfowl, and maybe spring warblers. Field trips are dependent upon the bird activity at the time. We're looking at going to Middle Creek, PA and Forsythe Wildlife Refuge. Binoculars available for those who do not own them. Trip costs are included in the overall fee: $75 fee, $60 for members of partner organizations (just tell them you heard about the series from TTF).
 
DATES: February 22, March 1, March 8, and March 15 
TIME: 9 a.m.
PLACE: Meet at BBNC, 1212 Edge Hill Road, Abington 19001
CONTACT:  Mark Fallon at 215.887.6603 ext. 15 or mfallon@briarbush.org 
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4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125 · 215.744.1853