Along with April flowers came Feet First Philly’s first walk of 2022, the Germantown Avenue Pocket Park Walk. Part of Feet First Philly’s series of 10 walks for 10 years Anniversary Celebration, the Pocket Park tour started at Allens Lane Train Station and moved on to explore six pocket parks and pedestrian safety improvements at eight intersections along Germantown Avenue.

The tour kicked off with an introduction to pockets parks by Janis Risch, executive director of the Mt Airy Business Improvement District (BID). Risch described the benefits green spaces and places to rest have on the surrounding community. Candice Price of Candice Price Garden Design, who curated the pocket park gardens, also attended the walk and shed light on the native plantings each small park contained. Feet First Philly’s own Erika Morgan and Will Fraser helped lead the tour and spoke about the pedestrian improvements slated to be installed in the future, including rapid flashing beacons, reduced crosswalk widths, ADA ramps, and bump-outs. 

Attendees at the Germantown Avenue Pocket Park Walk

At the halfway point of the tour, attendees relaxed and enjoyed iced tea provided by the Mt  Airy BID and Malelani Cafe at Pelham Pocket Park. Making our way further along Germantown Avenue, the tour learned a bit about the Battle of Germantown and ended at Freedom Park, just north of the Johnson Quaker House, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Finally, walk participants were given a magnet of their favorite pocket park. Trolley Pocket Park was among the most popular. Thanks to all who attended the tour, including the GirlTrek walking group. A special thanks to Risch from Mt Airy BID and Price for helping to organize an amazing start to our 10 walks for 10 years!

Missed the Germantown Pocket Park Walk? Don’t worry, we have many more walks coming up that highlight our favorite corridors, partner organizations, exciting pedestrian improvement projects, car-free public spaces, and more. You can learn about upcoming walks by visiting www.feetfirstphilly.org/walks, following Feet First Philly on Facebook and Twitter at @feetfirstphilly and Instagram @feet_first_philly, and subscribing to the Feet First Philly eNewsletter. 

You can support Feet First Philly’s work to advance walkability in Philadelphia by making a donation or buying a t-shirt. 

If you are interested in partnering with Feet First Philly on a walk, please email feetfirstphilly@cleanair.org.