Welcome

July 2011 newsletter
Check out the newsletter for WHCA election results! Update on the proposed amendments to the by-laws is also included. Click on the “Programs and Calendar” tab on top, and then on “Publications” on the left.

Community Day 2011Plans for Community Day 2011 are being finalized! We hope to see you at 50th & Locust Streets on Saturday, July 16. Click here for all the exciting details on Community Day.

VOTING RESULTS
At the last regularly scheduled general membership on Saturday, June 25, Walnut Hill Community Association members voted in officers for the next 2 year term. Horace Patterson is president, Dawn Chavous is 1st vice president, Jason Custis is 2nd vice president. Lorna Peterson, Deloris Fisher and Grace Johnson were re-elected as secretary, treasurer and financial secretary respectively. Zakkiyah Abdul Raheem is elected assistant secretary.

Thank you
A big thanks to all those who came out to support Henry C Lea Community Day on Saturday, June 18. The Lea School appreciates the support from the community, including members and residents like yourself. As some of you might have heard, Lea is experiencing budgetary issues that will impact their summer programming. Click here to download a report from WHCA Education Committee.

WHCA in the news
After 50 years, WHCA is still making news. On May 5, 2011, the Today Show was in our neighborhood taping a story on Walnut Hill Playground at 47th & Sansom which WHCA helped rebuild in the summer of 2009. Here is the link to the segment on The Today Show. Earlier in the same morning, we hit the airwaves on 88.1, WPEB, West Philly own community radio. Click here for the radio interview.

As we count down to WHCA 50th anniversary celebration, we’re planning a REALLY BIG WALNUT HILL COMMUNITY DAY!!! Come join the planning committee if you would like to help plan our celebration in July. The next planning committee meeting is Friday, July 8 at the Chatham – check back for the meeting time. We are located in office building E (right-hand corner facing the front of building).

Grant projects in progress: WHCA is busily working on 2 grants awarded by Preservation Alliance for banners and community gardens. THE GARDEN PROJECT PLANTED ALL SORTS OF GREAT PLANTS IN MAY!!! We had a great clean-up day at two vacant lots at 50th Street on May 7 to start the transformation of these lots into community gardens. Over 30 community members came out on that beautiful spring day to provide much needed help. Planting day on May 21 saw as many volunteers including a couple from Newark, DE!!! To learn more about the grant projects, including plans to transform a 3rd lot to create another community garden for more residents to enjoy gardening in their own raised bed plots, click on the “2011 grant projects” tab on the left.

Windermere update
WHCA completed the second and final distribution of the monetary donations received on behalf of Windermere Court residents. We held the 2nd distribution meeting on June 25 and gave out the remaining money in the Windermere fire victims’ fund. Residents who were not able to make the meeting and had provided mailing addresses should receive their checks in the mail. For more information on WHCA’s work with the Windermere residents, click here.

Welcome to Walnut Hill

Walnut Hill Community Association (WHCA) serves the neighborhood of Walnut Hill. The boundaries for the Walnut Hill neighborhood are Market Street on the North, 45th Street on the East, Spruce Street on the South and 52nd Street on the West. Watch the documentary

This is Home: The Story of Walnut Hill to learn more about our neighborhood. This documentary was made by a film student who graduated from West Philadelphia High School.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Walnut Hill Community Association, we are holding membership drives during spring 2011 to encourage residents and individuals who are interested in this neighborhood to join WHCA. To learn more about Walnut Hill Community Association, we invite you to explore this website. Read about our annual Community Day, our support for the Windermere residents, and the strategic plan for the Walnut Hill neighborhood developed with input from the residents, our members and other interested individuals. Our April 2011 newsletter includes highlights and pictures from recent activities that WHCA have been engaged in. To join Walnut Hill Community Association, download and fill out the membership application form.

WHCA was founded in 1961 by a group of neighbors, led by Charles Campbell Sr., who were concerned about the deterioration of their neighborhood. WHCA continues to be a neighborhood group run by residents who are dedicated to their community revitalization. WHCA actively promotes the neighborhood and encourages residents to participate in community events and to help determine neighborhood improvement priorities. WHCA continues to strive and work for the betterment of the community and its residents. We welcome your input, energy and participation.