In 2022, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and the Philadelphia Department of Aviation cleared a 33‑acre illegal dumping site in South Philadelphia’s FDR Park, building a tidal wetland planted with 7,000 native trees and earning the 2026 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
The southwestern corner of FDR Park had long been closed off, choked with decades of trash, fill, and invasive plants that turned the area into a neglected dumping ground.
Engineers replaced concrete drainage with working tidal channels that now channel stormwater into the marsh, preventing flooding in the low‑lying neighborhood and protecting nearby sports fields and walkways. The transformation was funded in part by a $1 million state grant tied to environmental mitigation for the expansion of Philadelphia International Airport.
The restored habitat has attracted a spectrum of wildlife: bald eagles, ospreys, herons, shorebirds, ducks, and songbirds now frequent the tidal channels, while beavers, red foxes, white‑tailed deer, fish, and red‑belied turtles roam the wetlands.
Maintenance crews will continue to monitor tidal gates, manage native plant growth, and inspect infrastructure so the wetland remains functional as the ecosystem matures.
The Governor’s Award not only honors this ecological triumph but also positions FDR Park as a benchmark for urban wetland restoration projects across the state.