Press Release:
Volunteers from Villanova University and Manor College joined the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) at Manor College on September 19 for a community planting and stewardship event along the East Branch of Jenkintown Creek.
The volunteer planting supports a planned green stormwater infrastructure project on the Manor College campus and supports efforts to improve the health of Jenkintown Creek. The hands-on event also gave participants an opportunity to learn about watershed health, invasive species management, and the role community stewardship can play in protecting local waterways.
The volunteer event is part of TTF’s ongoing partnership with Manor College to improve water quality, reduce erosion, and restore habitat along approximately 1,200 feet of the East Branch of Jenkintown Creek, which flows through the campus.
The work supports a planned green stormwater infrastructure project at Manor College that will redirect runoff from 5.6 acres of parking lots and rooftops that currently flows directly into the creek. Instead, stormwater will be captured and treated through a new rain garden and vegetated stormwater management feature. The project is designed to slow runoff, filter pollutants before they reach the creek, reduce erosion, and address recurring drainage issues on campus.
The project is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener program.
“This project demonstrates how restoring natural systems can improve both campus infrastructure and the health of our local waterways,” said Ryan Neuman, Montgomery County Project Manager at TTF. “Community volunteers play an important role in helping us care for these landscapes while building long-term stewardship.”
The participation of Villanova University and Manor College volunteers reflects the importance of partnerships in caring for local waterways. By planting native vegetation and helping restore the creek corridor, volunteers contributed directly to a larger effort to create a healthier and more resilient Jenkintown Creek.
About the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF)
The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership works across Northeast Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County to restore and protect local waterways through ecological restoration, community engagement, education, workforce development, and volunteer stewardship. By partnering with residents, schools, municipalities, and community organizations, TTF is building healthier creeks and stronger communities throughout the watershed.
Learn more and get involved: www.ttfwatershed.org
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Photos: Wendi Wu