Phillies, Trust for Public Land, City Team Up To Help West Philadelphia Park Go Green
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As fans count down the days for 'real' baseball again, with the Phillies about to start a new season, the club's broadcasters, ballgirls and the Phanatic were out in a West Philadelphia neighborhood on Wednesday, helping to turn a playground "green."
The Conestoga Community Playground at 52nd and Media Streets is one of ten playgrounds around the city getting eco-friendly renovations. Adrian Benepe of the Trust for Public Land says they'll create a green infrastructure overlay.
"We'll be capturing the storm water that falls in the playgrounds and adjoining neighborhoods as part of the city's efforts to clean up the stormwater before it hits the sewers," she says.
The project will help students like 16-year-old 10th grader Zion Goodwin from the Mastery Charter School - Shoemaker Campus across the street, learn about basic engineering concepts and how sewers work.
"It's good for the environment, I know that," Goodwin says. "I'm interested in learning more about the process, and what they mean about capturing the rain."
The Phillie Phanatic lead the children on a wild run around the bases, and the Phillies' radio broadcast crew, Scott Franzke and Larry Anderson also pitched in. They threw some batting practice with wiffle balls and bats. Anderson showed some agility around the mound, snaring a line drive.
