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The archive will be available at http://archive.phillywatersheds.org for approximately one year (through September 2020). If you use or are responsible for content here that is not yet available elsewhere, please contact the PWD Digital Team.

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A Greener Hackett Elementary Brings Excitement to the Neighborhood


Proposed view of Hackett schoolyard by the Community Design Collaborative

Horatio B. Hackett Elementary School is lucky to have a large schoolyard—nearly an acre of land in the middle of the city—but many people describe it as a “sea of pavement.” As it stands, the schoolyard is almost completely covered in asphalt but will soon transform into a lush green space with benefits for students, the neighboring communities and the environment. Many community members are excited that their kids will have green space to play in and teachers look forward to expanding their curriculum to include the outside environment.

This project demonstrates the power of partnerships and community involvement. The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), School District of Philadelphia, Friends of Horatio B. Hackett Elementary School, and the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC), and volunteers from the Community Design Collaborative (CDC) worked together on a master plan for the schoolyard that integrates green stormwater infrastructure.

The schoolyard will be outfitted with green stormwater infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff through PWD’s  Green City, Clean Waters plan. The site will be equipped with a rain garden and underground retention basins that will soak up rainwater, filter it and keep it out of the combined sewer system.

Using green stormwater infrastructure at the Hackett School is just one part of the schoolyard revitalization plan. It also includes play and fitness equipment, shade trees, murals, an outdoor classroom, and amenities such as customized swings, accessible ramps and walkways for wheelchairs and students with specialized needs.

Philadelphia Water Department will implement the green stormwater infrastructure elements. To jumpstart the project on the community side, the School leadership and the Friends of Hackett organize work days and are currently raising funds to realize the rest of the plan. You can donate to their cause on their website: http://friendsofhackett.weebly.com

To read more about this project and see pictures of the site, check out this Philadelphia Neighborhoods article Kensington: A Greener Schoolyard for Hackett Elementary.

All the Places We’ve Been!

Did you receive our exciting December newsletter? If not, here is a version for download. For those of you who missed it, we highlighted some of our exciting events, including our newest Spokesdog winners, Sophie and Josie, and PWD’s involvement in Greenbuild – one of the biggest, greenest conventions to have ever hit Philadelphia.

Our newsletter also details some of our upcoming events in 2014, like our Medallion Design Competition, and the next Green City, Clean Waters information session.

To sign up for future newsletters click here and be sure to check off “Green City Clean Waters.”

Upcoming: Green City, Clean Waters Info. Session

Do you have questions or concerns about Philadelphia Water’s GSI projects? Want to know more about Green City, Clean Waters or learn more about some of our potential projects?

Philadelphia Water Department’s monthly information sessions are a great opportunity to get updates, provide feedback and have your questions answered.
The next information session will be on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 from 6pm to 7pm in the Municipal Services Building located at 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd., 16th Floor, Room C.

Please remember to RSVP to ensure that we have information about what’s going on in your community.

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