A variety of Philadelphia institutions will receive funding for new green stormwater infrastructure retrofits.
Grace Maiorano reports for The Philadelphia Water Department – From an historic cemetery to a flamingo habitat, an assortment of local sites will receive green infrastructure – thanks to the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD).
Every year, we grant non-residential properties with funding to install new green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). We’re thrilled to share 11 new properties accepting this well-established award to improve local waterways.
These projects spruce up outdoor spaces and cut down water bills – all while reducing combined sewer overflow and stormwater pollution in our creeks and rivers.
During this past fiscal year, more than $12,000,000 in grants have been allocated for these retrofits – installing GSI on existing properties.
“We are excited to highlight this year’s stormwater grant awardees, ” says Beth Anne Lutes, PWD’s Stormwater Billing and Incentives Manager. “The projects we selected align with PWD’s mission to provide critical stormwater services to our community while also protecting the environment. Each unique project will not only benefit the individual properties but the Philadelphia community as a whole by managing stormwater at the source.”
Since the conception of Green City, Clean Waters nearly 15 years ago, we’ve installed GSI retrofits on hundreds of properties through our Stormwater Incentives. These projects total more than $202 million granted to non-residential property owners over the past decade!
Approximately 31 percent of the Greened Acres implemented to date were made possible by non-residential properties taking advantage of our Stormwater Incentives, including the Grants Program. (Each Greened Acre manages nearly 30,000 gallons of stormwater runoff during a one-inch rainstorm – or about a SEPTA bus-sized load of polluted water!)
Bears, Flamingos, and Building Infrastructure
Serving as a habitat for more than 1,900 rare and endangered animals, the oldest zoo in the United States is adding stormwater management systems to its array of sustainability efforts.
The upcoming Carey Bear Country and recently unveiled Flamingo Cove at the Philadelphia Zoo, located in West Philadelphia, received more $1 million in funding for an adjacent new rain garden and subsurface basin, which will manage more than 2 Greened Acres. The project will be constructed by NV5.
The new Flamingo Cove repurposed the original 1927 aviary with a three-foot deep wading pool where the animals can swim, nesting islands for breeding, and more features to benefit the birds.
The new Carey Bear Country, which is being built using sustainable practices, includes the extension of the Zoo360 trail system and the addition of a third bear habitat. Home to sloth bears and Andean bears, the new extended area will allow more space for the animals to breed and raise cubs.
W. P. Carey Foundation has pledged lead charitable support for this effort and the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, William Penn Foundation, Foxwynd Foundation, and Zoo community provided additional and ongoing support.
“As the region’s foremost conservation organization, we are grateful to have been awarded a GSI grant from the Philadelphia Water Department and advance our mission of advocating for wildlife and protecting wild places,” said Philadelphia Zoo Chief Integrated Operations Officer Kristen Waldron. “The Zoo is actively transforming its campus to create new exhibits and spaces where we can model to guests the importance of creating healthy ecosystems in our urban environment. The newly reimagined Carey Bear Country will showcase rain gardens that not only address stormwater management and pollution filtration, but also provide critical habitats for local wildlife. Carey Bear Country, which is slated to open in Spring 2026 will transform the heart of the Zoo and create lifelong memories for Zoo guests.”
Once the infrastructure is installed, the zoo will save approximately 5% on their average monthly water bill.
The new projects will resemble this rain garden, porous paving, and depaving at Southwark School in South Philadelphia. (Photo: PWD Staff)
Planting (more) seeds for a green future
The School District of Philadelphia has assisted as a key stakeholder of Green City, Clean Waters since the initiative’s genesis in 2011.
Six new schoolyards across the city are only growing this long standing partnership. Currently, more than 50 School District of Philadelphia schoolyards have formerly worked with us to implement green stormwater infrastructure on their properties.
Over the years, some of these schoolyard projects have even inspired lessons outside of the classroom. In 2014, the School District of Philadelphia and the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center developed the Understanding the Urban Watershed curriculum guide.
The resource was designed to educate middle school students on topics such as drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and watershed stewardship, including involving students in the maintenance of on-site stormwater management systems.
“The School District of Philadelphia is striving to make greener, cleaner, and healthier schoolyards to welcome all students to school,” Emma Melvin, Green Infrastructure Program Manager of the School District of Philadelphia, has told us. “These green schoolyards will provide a place of respite, to play and learn while teaching students about environmental stewardship.”
Congratulations to all the 2024-2025 Stormwater Grant Awardees!
- 2024R Upland Way
- Stephen Girard School
- James Logan Schoolyard Improvements
- Philadelphia Zoo’s Bear Country & Flamingo Habitat Renovation
- Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
- Gloria Dei Episcopal Church
- John H. Webster Schoolyard
- Lamberton Elementary
- Overbrook Elementary Schoolyard Improvements
- 4807 Westminster Ave
- James J. Sullivan School
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