Completion Date: Ongoing

Led by the Clean Air Council and funded by the William Penn Foundation, the Tidal Resilience initiative connects residents with partners to build a common-cause strategy against flooding and pollution. Over two years, the project has combined technical expertise with local knowledge, engaging in honest and often difficult conversations about how communities wrestle with the burdens of climate risk and industrial hazards in their own backyards. The goal was not only to assemble tools for resilience but also to spark real community action, resulting in gardens, park spaces, and other improvements that address heat islands, strengthen social capital, and expand green infrastructure from Grays Ferry down to Marcus Hook. 
 

A central focus is on Natech risks—industrial accidents such as chemical releases, fires, or explosions triggered by floods or hurricanes. These threats are especially severe in Southeast Pennsylvania along the Delaware Riverfront, where heavy industry meets rising seas and stronger storms. Flooding can damage equipment, collapse storage tanks, and spark electrical failures, creating disasters that strain both residents and government response.
 

These risks are deeply tied to social and environmental justice. For decades, low-income communities and communities of color were placed directly beside industrial sites with little oversight of such risks. Today, these communities continue to face disproportionate pollution and climate hazards while having fewer resources to adapt or recover. Building true resilience means not only preparing for future hazards but also confronting the inequities that magnify them.

https://cleanair.org/grand-reopening-of-sun-village/