City Cast Philly
🥒🏓 Your Philly pickleball guide
July 18, 2024 · — Asha Prihar
Good morning! Lately, I’ve been thinking kind of wistfully about the autumn, and how beautiful our region becomes when the leaves start changing.
That made me curious: What’s your favorite season in Philadelphia, and what makes it so great to be here at that time of year? Let me know what you think!
What's CITY Talking About?
⛔ Trail Section Closed for Chemical Testing
Bartram’s Garden has closed off several hundred feet of the Bartram’s Mile Trail so the area can be tested for potential chromium contamination. A visitor initially told the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in April that they’d spotted “green colored runoff” coming from an adjacent property. [Inquirer 🔒]
🌊 $2 Million for Flood Prevention in Eastwick
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will help fund the construction of flood barriers in Cobbs Creek, a temporary measure to reduce flooding in Southwest Philly until a proposed levee is built. [WHYY]
⚖️ Shapiro Won’t Defend Law That Bans Medicaid-Funded Abortions
A case challenging a Pennsylvania law prohibiting state Medicaid funds from being used for abortions has been pending in the courts this year. In the latest development this week, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he’ll urge the court to strike down the ban, as he believes it violates the state constitution. [Pennsylvania Capital-Star]
🏢 Bourse Building Sold
The historic building, which currently houses a food hall, has reportedly been purchased for $17 million less than its assessed value. Sources have told the Business Journal that the new owners plan to convert it into an event venue, hotel, and office space. [Business Journal 🔒]
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What To Do
Thursday, July 18
- 🥕 Community Farm Volunteer Workday | 10 a.m.–Noon | Free | Walnut Hill
- 🧑🌾 Community Garden Night | 4–7 p.m. | Free | Strawberry Mansion
- 🎉 Brewerytown Sidewalk Social | 6–8 p.m. | Pay As You Go | Brewerytown
- 🍽️ University City Dining Days (First Day) | Times Vary | $20–$40 | University City
Friday, July 19
- 👁️ Eagles Eye Mobile: Eye Exams for Kids | 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. | Free | Logan
- 🪑 Chair Yoga | 1–2 p.m. | Free | Parkway Central Library
- 📽️ “Mannequin” Movie Night | 7–10 p.m. | Free | East Passyunk
- 😆 Lisa Anne Walter at Helium Comedy Club | 10 p.m. | $32–$44 | Center City
- 🤫 Philly Silent Party | 10 p.m.–2 a.m. | $12+ | Crescentville
- 🎶 SOULed OUT | 10 p.m.–2 a.m. | $5–$10 | Callowhill
Today on City Cast
Some people have also said, well, if you start to clean up a little bit, then that'll encourage residents to do their own cleanup. You know, people tend to litter less on clean blocks … so there's an idea that you could sort of engage civic pride and boost other efforts to do cleaning.
An Update on the City’s 18,000-Block Cleanup Effort
From street sweeping to road repairs, there’s a massive citywide cleanup underway, which is part of the “One Philly” plan to clean every Philly block this summer. So, how have things been going? City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri talks with Meir Rinde, investigative reporter at WHYY’S Billy Penn, about what’s getting fixed and residents’ reactions to the cleanup efforts.
Enjoy your Thursday!
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