Klean Kensington was selected as community partner of a William-Penn Foundation-funded collective (Thomas Jefferson University’s Park in a Truck program + Circular Philadelphia + Trash Academy + Glitter) to transform and activate a vacant lot as a pilot project to reduce illegal dumping.

The ongoing project (2025-2027) has involved training two Community Managers and three teen Park Ambassadors to oversee the rehabilitation of a chronic dumping corner at 859 E Willard Street into a thriving community park space. These leadership roles have entailed community engagement, design, building, maintenance, as well as collaboration in the process with local residents and teens in Klean Kensington’s Garden Creators program.

• PRESS: 12.16.25 PA Environmental Daily; 12.17.25 Philly Voice; 12.21.25 KYW; 12.22.25 Metro Phila; 1.22.26 PHL17 Morning News; 6.20.26 KYW R&T transformation highlight; 9.15.26 6ABC Teens public garden ; 9.30.2026 KYW Teens transform…