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A revamped playground area, an outdoor classroom complete with gardens and a campus-style reading space, rain barrels, a tree infiltration system and the implementation of porous pavements are just some of the innovative green infrastructures planned for George W. Nebinger School, 601 Carpenter St., and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Nebinger, as well as other sections of Bella Vista and a Queen Village playground, received word April 26 that it was the recipient of a $200,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, with a matching amount from the Philadelphia Water Department and the nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, which covers the ecosystem spanning from central New Jersey to southern Delaware.
After the architectural design firm Community Design Collaborative conducted background research with the school’s students, staff and administration in the beginning of the academic year, it proposed a redesign of its adjacent playground pro bono.
“Part of the design included improving the runoff from our schoolyard and parking lot,” Principal Dr. Ralph Burnley said.
The environmental flavor the company imbued encouraged Burnley to contact the water department to embark on discussions about the implementation of this green infrastructure and to make these plans a reality. These actions really took off last week.
The water department sent a green design team to evaluate Nebinger’s site and its adjacent streets, Joanne Dahme, the department’s public affairs manager, said. The team wanted to learn more about how the area’s stormwater was draining, and how much of it was flowing from the parking lot into the street.
“There were a lot of opportunities for the schoolyard itself and the streets surrounding that,” she said about the potential of preventing stormwater runoff.
It occurs when rain water that does not enter a porous surface collects debris before entering the sewer system, according to the department. When a combined sewer system is overloaded during heavy rains, some of the water overflows into area rivers untreated, which happens about 60 times a year.
That being said, a combination of large- and small-scale projects will commence this summer. The water department will provide design services, set up a rain garden and install a porous surface in the faculty parking lot — the second of its kind in the city with the first debuting on the 800 block of Percy Street a year ago — to prevent water from hitting the impermeable pavements, running into the drains and collecting pollution along the way. The water department also will work to prevent stormwater runoff through a rain-water infiltration system and by installing planters to provide an opportunity for vegetative growth while capturing roof runoff.
The grant also includes the integration of a tree infiltration and drainage system along Passyunk Avenue between Sixth and 10th streets as a supplementary approach to keep stormwater out of the city’s sewer system.
This project is part of the larger, citywide Green City, Clean Water 25-year initiative to address water issues, develop innovative methods of dealing with water pollution, minimize system overflows and maintain water quality.
“Philadelphia is really setting the model as the first city to take this green approach and capture stormwater on the surface before it reaches our sewer systems,” Dahme said.
In the past, water would be collected through pipes and sent to waste water treatment facilities picking up pollution along the way, Shawn Garvin, regional administrator for the agency’s Mid-Atlantic region, said. Traditionally, in urban areas, a “brick and mortar” approach to addressing these issues has been used. But, over the years, after learning about more eco-friendly methods, innovative approaches such as green roofs, additional trees and natural stormwater systems were developed.
“It’s not singular in focus and it’s not just about clean water, but about leveraging a lot of different benefits and resources to address these issues,” Garvin said. “What we were looking for, in looking at this initiative, was being a leader in these areas, finding ways to get projects on the ground, educate others and manage its effectiveness.”
To that end, Nebinger — already focused on several green initiatives — was chosen because they were positioned to make immediate changes. In the fall, the agency plans on making a progress visit to see what has been accomplished with what is intended to be an international model for stormwater management.
The water department, along with the Parks and Recreation Department, aims to teach students and staff about adopting some of these green practices at home.
“We will educate them on how the systems work and why they are important to protect our rivers and streams,” Dahme said.
The agency hopes this educational component can easily be transferred to other schools in the city or throughout the region as the program develops.
As a former teacher, Burnley recognizes the importance of the educational model.
“I’ve always known and felt that kids learn better if they are out there doing things,” he said.
As one of the largest improvements, the school’s play area also will be open to the community. The updated and modern space will not only be beneficial to the neighborhoods, but will look aesthetically pleasing as well.
With the sidewalk already being ripped up for the addition of underground drainage beds, Carla Puppin, Queen Village Neighbors Association executive director, hopes what she calls a “sister project” to the revitalization of the Friends of Weccacoe Playground, 405-25 Queen St., which received a $535,000 grant from the City last month, will be a very visible example of the importance of water issues for the surrounding communities.
“It’s exciting because it addresses the whole issue of stormwater and takes Nebinger in the green direction opening up all kinds of possibilities for the students and teachers,” the resident of the 1000 block of Carpenter Street said. “Since it’s such an expansive concrete, very visible playground, the impact on the neighbors will be tremendous.”
The agency has been working with municipalities on a variety of activities and this funding, mainly for educational purposes, has an individual and city-wide emphasis, Garvin said.
“Every little bit helps,” he said. “The city has its big project, but really each of us individually can take steps to start up incremental things that have a big impact on us having clean, safe water.”
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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