Environment & Outdoors
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A Berwyn Couple Transformed Their Dark, Overgrown Property Into Year-Round Garden Paradise
For nearly 40 years, this couple has been turning their Berwyn property into one of the most beautiful private gardens in the region, writes Sally A. Downey for The Philadelphia Inquirer. When Bonnie and Bob Dettore bought their Chester County home in 1987, it was dominated by old-growth trees, bare ground, and almost no natural light. “The house was dark and damp all the…
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Philadelphia Men Face Felony Charges After Alleged Cable Theft Disrupts Churchville Bald Eagle Nest
A cable theft gone wrong has landed two Philadelphia men in legal jeopardy—not just for stealing, but for trespassing on one of nature’s most protected addresses, writes Jo Ciavaglia for Bucks County Courier Times. Northampton Township police and local park rangers caught Ilyosdzhon Bakiev and Abdurakhim Vakhitov last week after the pair allegedly pushed past…
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Mussels Have Potential to Transform Philadelphia’s Waterways Permanently
A first-of-its-kind project by the Philadelphia Water Department is working on reintroducing native freshwater mussels into Philadelphia’s waterways to help improve water quality, writes Cari Shane for Philadelphia Magazine. Led by a small team of aquatic biologists, the project focuses on studying freshwater mollusks native to urban rivers, streams, and canals in the Philadelphia region.…
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Pennsylvania’s Free Native Plant Kits Turn Lawns Into Pollinator Habitats
Pennsylvania is paying people in wildflowers to stop mowing their lawns. The state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is distributing free Pocket Meadow Kits to residents across the Commonwealth as part of its Lawn to Habitat Program, which aims to turn ordinary turf into thriving native ecosystems, writes Allaire Conte for Realtor.com. The…
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Philadelphia Energy Campaign Exceeds 10-Year Goals, Generating $1.3B in Clean Energy Investment
The Philadelphia Energy Campaign — launched in 2016 through a partnership between the Philadelphia Energy Authority and City Council — has blown past the ambitious targets it set for itself, generating more than $1.3 billion in clean energy investments and creating over 11,000 jobs across the city, writes Pat Loeb for KYW Newsradio. The original…
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Newly-Launched Program Aims to Help Philadelphia Residents Keep Nearby Alleys Clean
Philadelphia recently launched a new city program that allows local residents to request help in getting trash and vegetation cleared out of alleyways near their homes, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. This new Alleygator program is part of the city’s Office of Clean and Green Initiatives‘ biannual, 13-week citywide cleaning program. City Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada…
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Philadelphia Region Sees Major Spike in Harmful Air Pollution, According to New Lung Health Report
The American Lung Association has released its newest annual State of the Air report, and ranked the Philadelphia region’s air among the most polluted in the nation, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. According to the report, the Philadelphia-Reading–Camden statistical area is the nation’s 17th worst for its average particulate pollution level between 2022 and 2024.…
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Penn State Brandywine Highlights Work of Sustainability Commission
It’s the fifth anniversary of the Chancellor’s Commission on Sustainability at Penn State Brandywine. The Commission has brought sustainability into the campus landscape, operations, classrooms, and faculty and student research, writes Christina Billie for Penn State Brandywine. Launched in 2020 under the leadership of Regional Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells, the commission was established to recommend,…
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Pennsylvania May Soon Designate a New ‘Migratory Bird’
Pennsylvania is considering ending its status as the only state without a state bird by designating the scarlet tanager as its official “migratory bird,” writes Zoë Read for WHYY. While Pennsylvanians have already named the ruffed grouse the official “game bird,” bird enthusiasts are welcoming the idea of also establishing a “migratory bird” designation. State…
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Eastwick Residents May Soon Get Help With Flooding Relief Through Nature Based Solutions
For years, the Eastwick neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia has been repeatedly battered by flooding, and now a new proposal aims to reduce this, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers previously proposed a plan to build a 15-foot earthen levee along the Cobbs Creek. However, it is now looking at an…
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Progressive Hedonist Bringing Zero-Waste Makers Together for Pop-Up at Post Haste
Philadelphia wastes approximately 206 million pounds of food annually, which is a challenge that Dana Cowin, founder of the Progressive Hedonist podcast and dinner series, sees as an opportunity for inventive cooking, writes Kae Lani Palmisano for Philadelphia Magazine. “Looking at the world through the lens of zero-waste is one of my favorite things to…
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Philadelphia Parks and Recreation’s Composting Program Grows to 30 Sites Across City
Since its launch in 2019, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s composting program has grown steadily and now operates at nearly 30 sites citywide, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The program began with minimal funding under Ash Richards, the city’s urban agriculture director, who oversees Farm Philly, the urban agriculture arm of Parks & Recreation.…
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Another Chester County Town Considers Becoming Designated ‘Bird Town’
Chester County is for the birds, well, bird towns. Under the program Bird Town Pennsylvania, there are a few designated areas such as Malvern and Charlestown Township. Chadds Ford might be on the next flight, writes Rich Schwartzman for Chadds Ford Live. The program partners with municipalities and organizations to work on bird conservation, creating…
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Philly Health Department Unveils New Solar-Powered Sensors to Monitor Air Quality in Real Time
Philadelphia officials have introduced a real-time air-quality network that collects data from solar-powered sensors installed at strategic points across every neighborhood, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. A new online dashboard allows residents to monitor outdoor air quality before going for a walk, run, or park visit. The system gives alerts when pollution levels…
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Delaware River Greenway Partnership Board Welcomes Newly Elected Member
The Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) recently announced the election of Brian Koons to its Board of Trustees. The DRGP is an environmental nonprofit that sponsors lectures discussing a variety of topics related to the Delaware River’s recreational, cultural, and natural heritage. Organizations like the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River, the Delaware River Heritage Trail, the…
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Pennsylvania’s Large Rivers Struggle While Small Creeks Offer Path to Recovery
With Pennsylvania’s flagship waterbodies like the Delaware River struggling to restore fish and wildlife populations, small creeks offer hope for a broader turnaround, write Scott Ensign and David Arscott for The Philadelphia Inquirer. According to Pennsylvania’s recent river health report card, waterbodies throughout the state are likely to begin the spring season with diminished populations…
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265-Year-Old Rowhouse in Old City to Modernize With New Solar Panel Installation
An Old City rowhouse built around 1760 has witnessed more than 250 years of energy transitions, from being heated with firewood to now having solar panels on the roof, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. Built by merchant Henry Harrison, who became mayor in 1762, the three-story brick home survived the American Revolution and the construction…
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Looking to Recycle Your Christmas Tree? Here Are Some Options in Philadelphia
With Christmas and 2025 now in the rearview, many are looking for ways to discard of their Christmas trees. However, they don’t have to be left curbside for trash collection, as Philadelphia has several recycling and composting options available, writes Maria Pulcinella for WHYY. Starting Monday, January 5, the Philadelphia Department of Sanitation will run…
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