Date: 2022 – Present (ongoing)

The Resilient Communities Stormwater Initiative (RCSI), funded by the William Penn Foundation, seeks to manage stormwater and advance other community goals in historically underserved neighborhoods using amplified investment in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). When thoughtfully designed, GSI can reduce flooding and pollution caused by stormwater runoff, increase neighborhood green space, and contribute other climate-resilient community benefits. RCSI engages residents to identify green infrastructure opportunities and other climate-resilient projects that would contribute to a plan for the entire neighborhood.

The project began with six community roundtables contracted with community-based organizations to recruit community participants. Of the six neighborhoods engaged for RCSI, Kingsessing was selected to develop a community-led Green Vision Plan. Through workshops focused on mapping, site visits and discussion a plan was created that catalogues and documents every site that community members identify. Sites include current community assets, potential community assets, and ‘anchor’ institutions like schools, churches and rec centers. In the plan, each asset has its own project page which serves as a plan of action for each site. The plan has been made public for residents to use to identify green infrastructure and other climate-resilient projects for their communities.

A working group of community champions and leaders was formed to meet once a month to further efforts in greening Kingsessing. Through the efforts of this working group, conceptual designs and cost estimates have been completed for four sites. One of these sites is Ms. Verna’s Garden. Led by the vision of block captain Dianna Coleman, Ms. Verna’s Garden on Paxon St. was completed in Summer 2024 with help from Paxon St. Junior block captains, local youth crews, The Audubon Society, John Heinz at Tinicum and design services from Hinge Collective. Ms. Verna’s garden is now a well-loved memorial space with a community garden and youth programming.

Team members:

RCSI Team:
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Clean Water Action
Greenprint Partners
The Nature Conservancy
PEER Environmental
Neighborhood Gardens Trust

Kingsessing Working Group Members:
Anita Riddick, Black Farmers Co-op
Adriane Parks, H.E.L.P & Black Farmers Co-op
Brujo De La Mancha, Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac
Dr. Carol Simmons, Black Farmers Co-op
Cherice Barron, Longstreth Elementary, Empowered CDC
Dianna Coleman, Black Farmers Co-op/ Ms. Verna's Garden
Karen Smalls, Empowered CDC
Mohammad Kanneh, Empowered CDC
Sharon Mackin, Empowered CDC
Victoria Miles-Chamblis, Empowered CDC
Xeyah Martin, Empowered CDC

Other Kingsessing Orgs involved:
ACANA
Reinhard Farms
Southwest CDC

Ms. Verna’s Garden:
Dianna Coleman
Paxon St. Jr. Block Captains
John Heinz Workcrew
Audubon Society
Deeply Rooted
Bartrams Garden Roots Tree Crew

https://sites.google.com/hinge-collective.com/rcsi-enagagement/green-vision-plan