A Neglected Land Renovated as the
'WeLoveU Park'
WeLoveU Park Opened in Philadelphia, PA, U.S.
August 25, 2022
Saving the Earth, Environmental Protection, Sustainable Cities and Communities
The Clean & Green Project speaks to WeLoveU’s growing passion for serving the City of Philadelphia and its residents through environmentalism. Since 2017, WeLoveU volunteers have helped remove thousands of pounds of trash off the streets and parks through numerous cleanups with State Representative Jared Solomon. Cleanups are necessary for communities in need of litter removal. However, now more than ever, WeLoveU is compelled to benefit the City of Philadelphia long-term by developing a much larger, sustainable, and anchored project.
"The WeLoveU Park" Completed with Sincerity and Hard Work
The Starting Point
Opening the ‘WeLoveU Park’
On August 25, the opening ceremony was held at the WeLoveU Park.
WeLoveU members, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Jared Solomon, and other organizations that helped create the park, including the city police and fire departments, attended and congratulated the opening of the park.
“The creation of parks and green spaces has a tremendous positive impact on the community. I would like to thank the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation for helping us build the park. Together with WeLoveU, we were able to achieve this result. I will do my best to make it a clean place.”
Jared Solomon, a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
This project was supported by state funds.
In April of last year, State Senator Christine Tartaglione announced a fiscal support for the “Clean and Green” Project and said, “The WeLoveU found the practical way to utilize the neglected area that was not taken care of for a long time. We are pleased to provide the State Federal Fund for a valuable work.”
The WeLoveU will continue the Clean WORLD Movement
through various methods such as street cleanups and creating parks
so that local communities can enjoy a safe and pleasant environment.
The International WeLoveU Foundation applied and received the Greenways Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to help fund the Clean & Green Project.
“The WeLoveU Foundation has developed a sensible solution for a site that has been an eyesore and a nuisance to the community for many years,” Senator Tartaglione said. “I am thrilled to deliver Commonwealth funding for this worthy cause.”
There are more than 40,000 vacant lots in Philadelphia. The WeLoveU Foundation hopes the Clean & Green Project will inspire others looking to create green spaces in and outside Philadelphia.
Drivers and pedestrians can find this diamond in the rough at the intersection of Gilham Street, Cranford Avenue, and Loretto Avenue. The lot has remained vacant for nearly a century and is victim to overgrown weeds and illegal dumping. It is an undefined property in city records and has no listed address or owner. The plan is to construct a nature sensory path, gardens, and tree benches to provide a playscape for the community.
To prepare for the excavation, temporary fencing and dumpsters were installed in April 2022.
Volunteers hit the ground running figuratively and literally by excavating and tilling the soil all weekend long. Teams also began planting bushes and trees.
After a weekend of digging, volunteers got to work on hammering down blocks for the retaining wall. WeLoveU is using LibertyStone Hardscaping Systems materials for the retaining wall and pathway, a trusted source for landscaping products.
While working on the retaining wall, volunteers received a visit from Rep. Jared Solomon. After walking through the construction site and seeing all the progress made, everyone ate lunch together that was kindly provided by a popular Philly cheesesteak establishment.
After days of toiling in the rain and beaming sun, the retaining wall and steps reached completion. The retaining wall includes 10 posts with caps, and there are three sets of stairs around the up-and-coming park. The volunteers also laid out the first layer of stone for the path.
WeLoveU volunteers leveled the ground, prepared concrete sand, and installed the second and third layers of stone for the path. They also completed the payers and borders and cleaned the retaining wall and paver path debris. Afterward, pavers were sealed.
More than 30 volunteers planted over 100 green velvet boxwood shrubs. To keep the roots healthy and prevent dry-out, the volunteers planted the shrubs at a proper depth and watered them well.
The WeLoveU Foundation volunteers and Power Home Remodeling employees started the butterfly sensory path, laid Sod, began painting the vegetable garden beds, and planted fresh flowers.
The butterfly sensory path has been completed and is now visible, thanks to WeLoveU volunteers installing lights at the park.
On Thursday, August 25, 2022, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at WeLoveU Park with Pennsylvania State Representative Jared Solomon. Those who made the revitalization project possible attended the grand event.
Read more about it here.
The Philadelphia Police Department ran a crime statistic report five months before the ribbon-cutting ceremony and five months after. Statistics show the neighborhood has seen a 37% decrease in criminal activity and a 33% decrease in arrests.
According to BREC, supporting evidence shows parks adjacent to residential neighborhoods result in fewer violent and property crimes, and people support and protect one another. Spending time in natural spaces relieves aggression and cultivates security and peace.