Protecting the resources of Upper Roxborough

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 By Bernard J. Scally for Roxborough Review An important meeting of the Residents of Shawmont Valley Association (RSVA), neighbors and affliates discussed future of the wildlife habitat of Upper Roxborough on May 10 at the Andorra branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. According to the meeting notice, there has been much positive work going on in the community over the last few years in partnership with the City Parks and Recreation, the Philadelphia Water Department, Councilman Jones' Office, Natural Lands Trust, the Schuylkill Project and community volunteers to protect and restore this amazing region of the City. But threats still remain right at the heart of the neighborhood - potential developments at Blair Meadows on Shawmont Ave and on the Sulick Property on Port Royal, and the on-going degradation of Green Tree Run. RSVA and The Schuylkill Project obtained grant money to hire the Natural Lands Trust (NLT) to perform a study of the area. RSVA members and neighbors were able to review the proposed work of the NLT. Jim Thorne, Senior Science Director of Conservation Services for NLT, showed that his study would focus on the area bounded by Shawmont Ave., Eva St., Port Royal Ave., and Nixon St. According to the RSVA, this block is about 150 acres of sparsely populated woodlands and open fields providing a rich wildlife habitat. The goals of the study will be to inventory the natural resources and develop strategies for conserving and protecting the open space with a special focus on protecting Green Tree Run, one of the last remaining first-order, spring-fed streams in the city of Philadelphia. Read the entire Roxborough Review article HERE.