The Mission Behind the Gateway

Updates: As of 4/11/17 the NKCDC/DVGBC partnership has raised a total of $10,881.52 including Peer-to-Peer donations and business donations!  We have extended the fundraising deadline through April 20th for anyone who may still wish to contribute.  We are very excited for our build date set for June 10th 2017.  If you are interested in volunteering please email [email protected] with the subject line of "Frankford Gateway Volunteer."

The Frankford Gateway project would transform a nuisance property in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia into a community asset which will represent a victory for a community that has fought battles against environmental and health concerns, crime, safety, and disinvestment.

A 20,000 square foot section of the Gateway area will be the location of the project, which is centered around the intersection of Frankford Avenue and Sterner Street. The project includes planting native shade trees, shrubs and a cane fruit orchard, perennial border plants, and installing a pervious parking area with recycled concrete for pop-up shops to utilize.

The Frankford Gateway was identified by neighbors in the 2014 North of Lehigh Neighborhood Plan as a high priority for them because it acts more as a barrier than a bridge and has great potential to be a source of community pride. Residents then outlined a Gateway vision with the Community Design Collaborative that includes colorful lighting under the underpass and high-quality horticulture and public art to enliven the vacant lots. NKCDC has begun to stabilize some of the vacant land, and this project will allow us to bring this vision to the next level.

We hope it will serve as a model for other sites throughout the neighborhood and Philadelphia in general.

The funds are primarily for materials & services - with labor from volunteers who have already contributed many hours to planning & organizing this effort.  If you are interested in donating materials, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject line "Frankford Gateway Project Materials".