Walnut Hill: Community Association Encourages Residents to Stand Up and Be Heard by Voting
Walnut Hill Community Association President Horrace Patterson believes that the primary election and November general election could impact the community significantly. As president of the association for the past four years, Patterson finds that drugs, crime, cleanliness, schools, abandoned buildings and vacant lots are plaguing the community. “In my opinion, Mayor Nutter hasn’t done anything directly […]
Walnut Hill: Community Organization Creates a Green Space for Students
While the School District of Philadelphia’s budget cuts have caused many schools to close, the problems brought unity to one West Philadelphia neighborhood. When Alexander Wilson Elementary School closed last school year, most students were sent to nearby Henry C. Lea Elementary School (below left). Although many people throughout Philadelphia have openly expressed their dislike of merging schools, […]
Walnut Hill: Groundbreaking Swim Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary
On a quiet, tree-lined block just off of 48th and Spruce streets, patrons of the University City Swim Club scuffled by last week in sandals with swim towels clutched to chests, tote bags over their shoulders. Kids in baseball hats scampered too far from their parents, leaving whiffs of sunscreen trailing behind. Dads clutched newspapers […]
Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill: Local Bands Gear Up for Clark Park Fest
Since 1970, the Clark Park Music and Arts Festival has been a summer staple in the West Philadelphia area, attracting local musical acts, artists and vendors. This year’s festival is at the end of the month, but preparations have been underway since late March. “There’s a number of different attractions we have,” said Joshua Craft, owner […]
Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill: Armed Robbers And Increase in Crime Spur Community Safety Efforts
On the evening of March 12, a resident of the West Philadelphia community was robbed at gunpoint at the intersection of 46th and Hazel streets. Detective Joseph Murray, one of the West Philadelphia community’s main sources for information on crime, released a statement on Twitter about the robbery, stating that the suspect was wearing a gray hoodie and […]
Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill: Five People Making a Difference
There are many nonprofits, charities and other organizations in the Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill neighborhoods. These organizations often provide something that the neighborhood itself is lacking: education about crucial topics, an outlet that can scarcely be found elsewhere, or aid for people who are too often overlooked. Here are five people who work in […]
Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill: Five Community Leaders You Need to Know
One of the most immediately distinct things about Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill are the many communities that these areas contain. Whether they are drawn together by religion, proximity or shared cultural backgrounds, the people in these communities are the lifeblood of the area. The five people below are community leaders whose actions help to […]
Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill: Five Places You Should Know
Spruce Hill and Walnut Hill are home to a variety of interesting sites and a community with a wealth of diversity. It is great for both locals exploring the neighborhood on their days off and visitors looking for somewhere to spend those coveted hours between Friday and Monday. Here are five significant landmarks in the […]
Walnut Hill: Program Promotes Health Awareness for Young Adults
Project STAND, a project based out of the University of Pennsylvania, is designed to educate African-American males between the ages of 18 and 45 about the risks of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. STAND is short for the full name of the project, Steering Together a New Direction. Its mission is to lower the rates of sexually […]
Walnut Hill: Organization Brings Awareness to the Community about Education Quality in Prison
The prison population has increased in the United States over the past 30 years. Each day, about 200 new jail cells are constructed. According to prison statistics from Hearts and Minds, most inmates come from a disadvantaged background. About one-third of inmates were unemployed prior to their imprisonment. In addition, the majority of inmates had […]