EPRA works with community residents to improve the environment and quality of life in the neighborhood. Our crew of neighborhood residents has created and maintains 167 parcels of community-friendly open green space in the site of formerly abandoned vacant lots. We have planted over 700 trees in the neighborhood and adjacent park space, involving school children, seniors and other neighbors in the plantings. EPRA sponsors community clean-ups throughout the year, for neighbors to get involved in cleaning their community.

EPRA's environmental improvement initiatives are focused on two areas: creating safe open green spaces within the neighborhood in place of blighted abandoned lots and connecting the neighborhood to the adjacent parkland. EPRA has converted formerly abandoned dumping grounds into green pocket parks, removing years of accumulated debris and planting grass and trees. The organization has maintained over 13.5 acres of land under contract with the city. To achieve this, EPRA employs a landscape crew made up of members of the community. In addition to providing jobs in a neighborhood with high unemployment, hiring residents of the community has had the added benefit of empowering neighbors to take ownership in maintaining the appearance of their blocks. The result has been the creation of safe open areas for children to play, along with locations for summer movie nights and the painting of murals in the community.

EPRA promotes programming that connects the neighborhood to East Fairmount Park, including initiating and promoting activities in the park and beautifying gateways and borders. Tree planting plays a central role in bringing the community into the park. The 700-plus trees, including a fruit orchard at the Woodford House in Fairmount Park, planted by EPRA over the years, create greenways that soften the borders between the neighborhood and park, to make it more inviting to the community.

Watch and listen to a Philadelphia Inquirer slideshow special about EPRA's vacant land work.