On Monday, Glenside Local joined Cheltenham Township Ward 2 Commissioner Dwight Pedro Lewis for a ride-along through Cheltenham Township to capture examples of what he calls “blight”.

Our first stop was the former Walgreens at 2727 W Cheltenham Avenue in Wyncote. Prior to its May closure, it looked something like this:

It now looks like this:

Some of the unseemliness has dribbled into the adjacent Taco Bell’s parking lot:

Our next stop was a swath of land behind the Ross Dress for Less at Cedarbrook Plaza:

Among other locations, we also checked out Shopper’s Lane, which Commissioner Lewis says is much improved and the result of pushing residents and business owners to take better care of their township.

Lewis is hoping to continue that momentum from 10:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, October 4, when he and local volunteers kick off the “Fight Blight Township Cleanup Day”. The initiative was first announced in late August as a response to an excess of unsavory elements: Abandoned cars, dilapidated homes, illegally parked vehicles, fallen trees, illegal dumping, standing water, hazardous structures, graffiti on traffic signs and bridges, and, of course, trash.

Fight Blight’s first target is the former Walgreens.

“We’re going to need trucks and we’re going to have to charge the property’s owners if we want them to do something,” he said. “They’re not taking care of that land. They won’t care unless we care. We put a lot of pressure on the owners of Shopper’s Lane. It looks a lot better, but we’re not done. In terms of sustaining a program like this, we have to identify who’s responsible for maintaining these spaces after we’re done. After October 4, we have to deal with enforcement.”

This winter, Lewis expects to launch a full plan that includes township-driven infrastructure coupled with an awareness campaign.

“We have to use code enforcement. Developers and business owners need to be held accountable. If we have to levy fines and things of that nature, then that’s what we’ll do,” he said. “We have to do a consistent job of making people aware of when and how to take care of trash and report blight.”

Over time, Lewis hopes to restore faith that Cheltenham Township’s appearance matters to leadership.

“If people see us invest, they’ll embrace it, too,” he said. “I’m working with the township and a dedicated team of residents who care deeply about Cheltenham. Without their commitment and collaboration, October 4 would not be a planned reality. I’m incredibly grateful for their support and shared vision for our community.”

On Tuesday, Cheltenham Township officials announced a list of projects which cleanup groups plan to tackle on Saturday. The groups welcome any last-minute volunteers:

• Ashbourne Meadows Community (Start: TBD)
• Elkins Park East Business District (Start: Ogontz Park)
• Gimbel Field
• Glenside Business District (Start: Sweet Magnolia)
• Grove Park
• La Mott neighborhood (Start: John Russell Park)
• Melrose Park/Cheltenham Ave (Start: Cheltenham Ave and Coventry)
• Mellon Road neighborhood, Wyncote (Start: Mellon & Clements)
• Thomas Williams Park
• Tookany Creek Parkway, New 2nd to Central (Start: TBD)
• Tookany Creek Parkway, Ashbourne to Ashmead, then Ashmead to Front (Start: Veterans Field Parking Lot)
• Wall Park and Old York Road from Elkins Park Square toward train bridge (Start: Wall Park Parking Lot)
• Washington & Rock Lanes

From the announcement:

Clean streets send a message that we take pride in our community.  In the spirit of that community pride, the Township has designated Saturday, October 4 as a Township-wide community clean-up day, and we’re asking you to join!

The cleanup hours will be from 10:00am-12:00pm on October 4, with a rain date of October 5. Clean your block, our business districts, or a local park.  Organize your family members, block neighbors, teammates, parks groups, pickleball partners, book club, or friends to join you.

Cleanup can consist of picking up litter, sweeping sidewalks, pulling weeds (discard separately in debris collections), or other safe and simple upkeep. When possible, separate recyclables to discard with single-stream recycling. 

The Township will provide trash bags for litter that will be picked up by Public Works the following Monday.

Steve Vahey, a Glenside Rotarian, is joining Saturday’s effort and has invited the Greater Glenside Patriotic Association (GGPA), Rotary Club of Glenside-Abington, Rotoract of Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Manor College, Knights of Columbus, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH).

“We originally signed up for the Tookany Creek Parkway, but the township didn’t want to do that because it’s so close to the road,” Vahey said. “We’re doing Ashmeade Road instead. We’re starting at 101 Ashmead and rallying at the Armenian Church. We can use their parking lot. We’ll work our way down the street. That area really needs some TLC.”

Vahey and company do a cleanup project every spring at the Glenside Library.

“I’ve known Dwight for years. I’m glad he’s starting something like this and we look forward to taking part,” he said. “We have a group from Abington Friends School on Saturday. They helped us in the spring.”

Caryl Levin, 83, a former middle school teacher in Philadelphia and member of the Melrose Park Neighbors Association, said her group does an annual trash pick-up on Earth Day. She personally picks up the trash between the Melrose and Elkins Park train stations every Saturday.

“Going under Cheltenham Avenue, we end up with three or four gigantic bags every time. My niece will be coming from Massachusetts to help me on Saturday. I’ll try to rustle up MPNA members and the people on my block,” she said. “I think help at High School Park is needed as well.”

Levin noted that MPNA members will meet at Cheltenham Avenue and Coventry Road.

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