We live at 15th and Rittner. By most, our family would be considered one of the newcomer, yuppie families "invading" South Philly (we are originally from NY and bought a house in South philly because it was affordable and close to public transportation). Now we are interested in working on making some of the parks that have great potential more friendly for children and dogs, as well as interested in working on the longstanding trash and parking issues. Are there any groups working on these issues that serve this area? We'd really like to get involved.

Welcome to the city. I love to hear about new blood moving in, especially when they're as civic-minded as you sound.

I live on the east side of Broad, so I'm not really familiar with what's happenin' in your neck of the woods, but I'm sure someone on board here will chime in with that info.

Best of luck to you!

If you are looking for a nice park, be sure to check out Girard park at 21st & Shunk

I live very near 15th and Ritner (on carlisle street) and I too am a recent transplant. I think this area is great and only going to get better.

I would love to see Marconi Plaza made nicer. It seems very neglected, yet, I think it's a great park. It could be turned into one of the greatest parks in the city easily.

Let me know if you find any groups interested in helping with the parks or if you are thinking of starting something.

eddie

My neighbor just told me about a "neighborhood watch" group that has been meeting, but they seem focused primarily on patroling the neighborhood to prevent crime and stopping the local food places from placing flyers in our doors/on our doorsteps. I mentioned to him that the group might want to post a notice in the South Philly Review the week before so other, newer members of the community could join. He agreed that the newer people should get involved. My sense is that the group is mostly older people, and I think that the people with young children could really breathe some life into what they're doing. He said that the next meeting would be on April 11th. I will pass on more info as I have it.
I'd love to get together a group of people to talk about Marconi Plaza and what could be done to make it a great park. Maybe we could meet at that neighborhood watch group meeting to discuss it.

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luvscooter

what up neighbors?

I live at Broad & Porter. I too would not mind a nice park. My impressions of Marconi Plaza are that it has, to put it diplomatically, seen better days. I assume the bocce courts have only been mothballed for the winter, but then again, it's a city facility so who knows. I wouldn't mind playing bocce with some of the old Italian guys around here. Girard Park has appeared in much better shape and with a less frightening clientele, so to speak.

On the upside, it looks like work is proceeding on the Oregon Ave. subway station.

Keep me posted on the neighborhood association goings-on.

Hey

If you go to the cities website..there is the clean blocks program and the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee...they can hook you up with people in your neighborhood who are cleaning up the trash specifically.

http://www.phila.gov/streets/pmbc.html

There is also the Philadelphia Community Development Association, which lists all community groups by neighborhood, below is the link to the South Philly list
http://www.pacdc.org/cgi-bin/search....h+Philadelphia

and fianlly, there is www.phillyneighborhoods.org where you can look up everything about every neighborhood and link to every group and every program

we moved to the WHitman neighborhood about a year ago and when we moved I made it a point to try to find all of this out and get involved...its funny casue I have all of this info, but I have not actually gotten involved yet, I guess I should get on calling the Whitman Council and or my block captain!

hope all of this helps!

Count me in! I'd love to attend a neighborhood group and talk about what can be done to make the area nicer. And I'd be willing to help out with the park.

Also, I don't think only those with kids would want to help out. I don't have kids and I've met a few single professionals who have bought homes around me. Nice neighborhoods and parks are something all people want.

Thanks for keeping us informed and welcome to the neighborhood! I'm very excited about this neighborhood group! I'll spread the word to my neighbors.

eddie