Philadelphia — The City of Philadelphia announced today that it has launched a major remediation effort to remove legacy dumping from Pennypack Park, restoring parkland and protecting a watershed that feeds into the Delaware River.
This initiative is being led by the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Clean and Green, Parks & Recreation Department, Philadelphia Water Department, and Department of Sanitation alongside environmental brand United By Blue and climate-focused financial platform GreenFi.
The project targets an historic illegal dumping site within Pennypack Park in North Philadelphia, one of Philadelphia’s five primary watershed parks. The site drains directly into Pennypack Creek, which flows into the Delaware River watershed, a critical source of drinking water for the city. Through this partnership, large volumes of illegally dumped materials, including construction and demolition debris, furniture, appliances, tires, and other waste, are being removed to improve safety, restore parkland, and reduce pollution entering local waterways.
In addition to removing debris, the project includes preventative measures designed to stop future dumping. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation will install fencing and “No Dumping” signage, while the City’s Licenses and Inspections Department has supported the project by removing vehicles that were illegally parked on the property—an ongoing issue affecting nearby residents.
The project advances the work of the Office of Clean and Green, which supports the mayor’s goal of making Philadelphia the cleanest, greenest big city in America, ensuring environmental improvements translate into healthier, safer neighborhoods across the city.“ This public-private partnership demonstrates Mayor Parker’s One Philly, A United City initiative, said Carlton Williams, Director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives. “Illegal dumping hurts our neighborhoods, our parks, and our waterways. This project delivers real results for residents—cleaner public spaces, healthier waterways, and long-term solutions that prevent dumping from happening again.”
“The time is now for this area of Pennypack Park to no longer be a dump site,” said Susan Slawson, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. “This historic dumpsite has long posed risks to our communities and the environment. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is proud to join the Office of Clean and Green and our city partners in taking decisive action to protect our waterways and ensure every resident can enjoy safe, clean, and welcoming green spaces.”
United By Blue, a Philadelphia-founded environmental brand known for organizing large-scale cleanups, is supporting the project as part of its mission to remove trash from waterways and restore natural environments. “Partnerships like this allow us to scale the impact of our mission,” says Seth Burroughs, CEO of United By Blue. “Working alongside the City of Philadelphia and partners like GreenFi allows us to tackle environmental challenges directly and help restore important community spaces.”
GreenFi’s involvement highlights the growing role private-sector partners can play in supporting environmental restoration and community resilience. “Financial systems touch nearly every part of the economy, and we believe that can help drive real environmental progress,” said Tim Newell, CEO of GreenFi. “Projects like this one demonstrate how partnerships between cities, companies, and communities can protect natural resources while delivering tangible benefits for residents. By removing illegal dumping, restoring public land, and protecting the watershed that supplies Philadelphia’s drinking water, the Pennypack Park remediation effort delivers immediate quality-of-life benefits while serving as a model for how public and private partners can work together to build a cleaner, healthier city.”
About the Philadelphia Office of Clean and Green
The Philadelphia Office of Clean and Green works across City departments, community organizations, and private partners to advance the mayor’s vision of making Philadelphia the cleanest, greenest big city in America. The Office focuses on reducing litter and illegal dumping, improving neighborhood cleanliness, expanding access to green spaces, and ensuring environmental improvements support public health, equity, and economic opportunity for all Philadelphia residents.
About the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its residents through intentional and sustained stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other, and to fun, physical and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About the Philadelphia Water Department
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) supplies drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services to customers within the City of Philadelphia. PWD’s mission includes not only operating and maintaining a network of more than 3,100 miles of water mains, 3,700 miles of sewers, six treatment facilities, and 34 pumping stations but also protecting Philadelphia’s waterways from threats and pollution sources locally and beyond the City limits to ensure safe, high-quality drinking water and healthy local waterways. PWD maintains a commitment to sustain and enhance the region’s watersheds and quality of life by managing wastewater and stormwater effectively.
About United By Blue
United By Blue is a mission-driven outdoor brand committed to protecting and restoring the natural environment. After undergoing a restructuring in 2023, the company has re-emerged with a renewed focus on its founding purpose: removing trash from waterways and engaging communities through hands-on environmental action, while continuing to provide high-quality innovative outdoor products utilizing recycled and other more sustainable materials. Today, United By Blue advances its mission through public-private partnerships, community clean-ups, and collaborations with organizations that share its commitment to sustainability, conservation, and positive local impact.
About GreenFi
GreenFi is a sustainability-focused financial platform providing everyday banking and investing. By supporting climate-forward initiatives, responsible investing, and community-based environmental action, GreenFi empowers its customers to drive positive impact through everyday financial decisions. Through partnerships with mission-driven organizations, GreenFi works to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.