Climate Resilient Communities
Marcus Hook Area Neighbors participated in a three-year Climate Resilient Communities Project to better understand and address climate change threats to communities near polluting industrial sites along the Delaware River in Delaware County. The Climate Resilient Communities project:
- Modeled potential climate impacts to our region
- Empowered residents to envision and create community based green infrastructure projects such as park revitilizations and native tree plantings
- Advocated for policy changes to protect our communities from flooding and heat impacts as well as hazardous pollution from industrial sites throughout the impacted area.
Over the course of 3 years, Marcus Hook Area Neighbors, in partnership with Clean Air Council, hosted regular community meetings focused on climate education and building climate resilience in our local communities. Neighborhoods of focus included Marcus Hook, Trainer and Chester. These environmental justice communities along the Delawaree River are overburdened by polluting industries, cumulative environmental health impacts, and unique climate vulnerabilities. Learn more here.
The project culminated in a Climate Resilient Communities Report with Key Findings and Recommendations for our region, as well as park reviltilization projects at Sun Village Park in Chester, PA and at 3rd Street Wilcox Park in Trainer, PA.
Sun Village Park
In partnership with Clean Air Council, City of Chester, Bonnies Community & Development Corp, & Legacy Arts Chester Storybook, Marcus Hook Area Neighbors participated in the revitalization of Sun Village Park. This included a story book walking trail, new picnic tables and benches, a garden of native pollinator plants, and beautiful murals on the pavillion pillars, tennis court fence and trees. We hosted an Arts in the Park summer workshop series to engage neighborhood youth in creating mural arts for the park. Ms. Bonita and the Friends of Sun Village Park continue to host ongoing art making workshops and park clean-ups.
3rd Street Wilcox Park
In partnership with Clean Air Council, Trainer Borough, the NMS Watersheds Alliance & Legacy Arts Chester, Marcus Hook Area Neighbors participated in a the revitalization of 3rd Street Wilcox Park. This included a storybook walk, Free Little Library, outdoor seating, a new fence, and native pollinator plants and trees throughout the park to mitigate flooding and heat impacts and enhance community green space. During the summer, youth were involved in an Arts in the Park summer workshop series to engage neighborhood children in creating mural arts for the park.
