Clean Air Council, Residents, and Partners Join For Celebrate Cobbs Creek Trails Day

Hundreds of residents, community partners, and stakeholders came together for the 4th annual Celebrate Cobbs Creek Trail Day and joined in a fun day of art, education, and exploring the trails around Cobbs Creek Park. This year’s event was moved south on the trail to Whitby Avenue and Cobbs Creek Parkway due to construction at the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center and its new nature playground. 

Two back to back walks began the day at 8am. First, In-Color Birding guided attendees on a walk to identify different bird species. Several birds of prey were spotted soaring above Whitby Meadows along with two gray herons resting in the creek. Next, WeWalk PHL and Tiny Trekkers kicked off their walk season with a two-mile hike along the creek side trails to Spruce Street where hikers enjoyed fresh cut watermelon from a local fruit vendor.  

Visitors met with local politicians there as guests and representatives from over a dozen local community organizations with information about health, safety, and environmental education resources. The celebration along Cobbs Creek Trail also included tree and book giveaways and an eco print workshop that used local native plants to create prints on fabric. Audubon Mid-Atlantic and Land Health Institute coordinated a planting at the intersection of Whitby Ave and the Parkway, and held an impromptu meadow hike. Erin “ The Concrete Cowgirl” from Philadelphia Urban riding Academy gave horseback rides for children and adults so they could experience being an equestrian for the day. Saddique’s Water Ice rounded off the afternoon passing out delicious Philly pretzels and famous blueberry lemonade water ice.

A big thank you goes to Deeply Rooted Community Green Grants Program, a joint effort between Penn Medicine and CHOP led by the Penn Urban Health Lab, for sponsoring the Celebrate Trails Day event and to Rails to Trails for helping to promote the event! This event would not have been possible without the help of the local community groups, organizations, and agencies who exhibited and provided resources, educational materials, and recreation opportunities for the event. Finally, thank you to everyone who attended the event and  stopped by the Council’s table to say hello!