Eastwick

Background

Eastwick is a residential neighborhood located in the southwestern region of Philadelphia. Eastwick was home to the Clearview Landfill that operated from the 1950s to the 1970s. This site contaminated residential soil and was added to the National Priority List in 2001. Eastwick is also the lowest lying area of Philadelphia and prone to flooding which has worsened with climate change.

Outline of Eastwick neighborhood

Hazard Profile

Environmental concerns in Eastwick include emissions from traffic from two interstate highways and the Philadelphia International Airport and legacy contamination from the decommissioned Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery and the Clearview Landfill.

Clearview Landfill contaminated soil, groundwater, and fish tissue with hazardous chemicals. The Clearview Landfill and the Folcroft Landfill, located in Delaware County, make up the Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site. Between September 2016 and June 2017, EPA removed soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that posed a health threat. Cleanup work at the Clearview Landfill began in 2017 and is nearing completion.

Sign noting EPA Clearview Landfill Cleanup

Flooding in Eastwick is impacted by the tidal Delaware River, Cobbs Creek, and Darby Creek. Eastwick has experienced several “100 year floods” in the past few years. Residents are concerned about water damage in their homes and potential mobilization of toxic substances from the Superfund site.

Air emissions from the Philadelphia Airport and traffic associated with two major interstates, I-95 and I-76, are also a concern. Eastwick residents are concerned about cancer, asthma, and pulmonary disease due to their environmental exposures.

CEC Activities

Eastwick Lower Darby Creek Area (ELDCA) Community Advisory Group (CAG)

The EPA established the ELDCA CAG, with CEC as a founding member, to both inform residents of the Eastwick community about the progress of the clean up of the Clearview Landfill Superfund site and provide residents with the opportunity to voice concerns and provide input to the process. The CEC provided health and technical support to the CAG as it worked through the process of remediation and development and implementation of communication strategies. The CEC also provided environmental health expertise at community meetings and facilitated presentations to community members on raised bed gardening, air emissions leading to asthma and increased cancer risk, designed and disseminated materials on flooding risks, and designed and maintained the CAG website. The CEC collaborated with the regional EPA Superfund site manager to develop fish advisory signage to advise residents who subsistence fish which species are unsafe to eat due to chemical contamination. This signage was translated into four languages.

The CEC continues to engage citizens on the CAG as a health and safety technical advisor to review EPA’s remediation of the Clearview landfill Superfund Site and offer recommendations incorporating citizens’ concerns. The CAG was acknowledged by the EPA for its constructive collaboration during the remediation process. In 2021, Michel Regan, the EPA Administrator, announced additional funding from the Biden American Rescue Plan to hasten clean-up of this site at this location.

Members of a Community Organization meeting around a conference table

Climate Change Listening Sessions

The CEC has engaged with Eastwick United regarding ongoing concerns about flooding, especially after the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias where large parts of the community received up to 6 feet of water inside homes. The CEC hosted climate change listening sessions at Eastwick United to discuss their needs and concerns regarding the health impacts of flooding. Asthma, due to the mold that follows flooding, and the psychological impacts of repeated flooding are two important environmental health problems identified by the community. Another important topic discussed was the City’s emergency alert system. The CEC is collaborating with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management as they work on enhancing their emergency alert system.

Our Partnerships in Eastwick

CEC Resources

Explore our resources to find helpful information and programs relevant to the Eastwick community. View our Community Resources page to view all our resources.

Prepare a Go Bag for Evacuation

HANDOUT Information to help community members plan for emergencies that might require them to evacuate their home, including flooding events.

Lead Soil Map

 GIS Map View our resources on lead, including our lead soil map with over 3,900 soil samples representing 86% of census tracts in Philadelphia.

Get Involved

Do you live or work in this community and would like to get involved with our work? Please contact us!

Contact Us
Members of a Community Organization meeting around a conference table