EKNA

The Beautification Committe

Started: Summer 07′ Chair: Jacelyn Blank Contact: eknabeauty@googlegroups.com

Participants: Jacelyn Blank, Nykia Perez, Richard Zurlnick, Jeff Carpineta, Leah Lample, Aaron Miller, Stanford Gable

This Committee was formed to address the following needs and concerns of residents that were identified as a priority by member surveys and meetings. Cleaning- Solutions for Excessive Trash, Grafitti, Neighborhood Clean-Ups, Tire Round Ups.Greening- Tree Planting, Garden Tending.

These are all huge topics to grapple with. So far, members of Beautification have assisted with clean-ups, tire round up, and there is a large tree planting effort underway**. There is discussion about residents ‘adopting’ a trash can on their street.

**The Philly Tree People** Members of EKNA Beauty- Jacelyn Blank and Nykia Perez, together with nearby Kens. resident Dina Richman- attended the Tree Tending training provided by the PA Horticultural Society. The training is one of the finest things our city has to offer. Participants learn the art and science of tree planting + care as needed for beauty and for our survival as a people. For more info about becoming a Tree Tender visit the PHS or better yet check out the Philly Tree People web site @ http://phillytreepeople.googlepages.com

Upcoming EKNA Beautification Activities:

• 2009 East Kensington Clean Up Calendar: Second Saturday Street Sweepers Download the 2009 Schedule
  Regular cleanups are scheduled for the second Saturday in each month. We are calling it Second Saturday Street Sweepers. If you are unable to join the group effort, try to clean your block during that week. Trash will be stored in the Emerald Street Park (Emerald between Dauphin and Arizona) Call Stan at (609) 209 0468 for bag collection, if needed. Cleanups will begin at 10 AM. NO HOUSEHOLD TRASH, BULK ITEMS OR TIRES.

  Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) cleanups are community wide cleanup days with focus on the more blighted areas. The city sends special trash trucks on these days and we can get rid of bulky items. These are random Saturdays. All are encouraged to attend.

  There will be a special cleanup of Trenton Avenue before the Trenton Ave Arts Fest on Friday May 15^th and afterwards on the 16^th. Start time will be announced.

  East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA) will supply trash bags and some tools, we encourage you to bring gloves, brooms and rakes if you have them.

  • February 14 - Coral Street from Susquehanna to York
  • March 14 - Coral Street from York to Cumberland
  • April 11 - Emerald from York to Cumberland
  • May 15/16 - PMBC cleanup FRIDAY CLEANUP FOR THE ARTS FEST
  • June 13 - Amber from York to Frankford
  • July 18 - PMBC cleanup All areas plus Boston Street (Amber to Front)
  • August 29 - PMBC cleanup All areas plus York Street (Frankford to Front). We will attempt to have a barbecue afterwards at Emerald Park
  • September 12 - Playground/Garden cleanup weekend. (Hagert and Pops)
  • October 10 - Jasper Street from Front to Cumberland
  • November 14 - Martha Street. (All blocks Norris to Lehigh) Plus leaf collection.
  • December 12 - Clean your block for the holidays. No scheduled group event

  NOTE: Cleanups will not be rescheduled for inclement weather or snow cover. We will clean in the cold. Please print this list and hand it out to your neighbors.

Upcoming Neighborhood Beautification Activities:

• coming soon…

Past EKNA Beautification Committee Events:

• April 19, 2008: Cleanup and Weeding at the Cumberland and Amber Community Garden (Collected over 15 bags of trash and 2 bags of recyclables with 8 volunteers [4 of which were EKNA members])
• April 12, 2008: Cleanup, Weeding, Fence Removal and Planting at the Rainbow Park Community Children’s Garden at Jasper and Emerald Streets (9 volunteers [4 of which were EKNA members])
• April 5, 2008: NKCDC Frankford Avenue Cleanup and Mayor’s Citywide Great PA Cleanup (EKNA and Beauty Committee worked along side neighbors to help clean up the neighborhood including Frankford Avenue, northeast side of the Berks Street El stop and Trenton Avenue as well as elsewhere throughout the area.)
• March 15, 2008: EKNA helps out at FNAWorks and Philly Tree People Tree Planting (There were a few EKNA members out during the FNAWorks event cleaning up Norris Street and Trenton Avenue. There were many members of EKNA involved in the tree planting.)
• February 2, 2008: York and Emerald Cleanup (Over 15 people were out helping to clean up this main thoroughfare and over 50 bags of trash were collected including several bags on recyclables)
• December 22, 2007: Coral Street Clean Up from Front Street to York Street (Over a dozen people came out to help clean and they collected over 70 bags of trash)