The Greater Philadelphia Area
Nutritionists believe that local honey has health benefits. Since the bees collect nectar from locals plants, it may help relieve allergy symptoms. A small farm located at 351 W. Lincoln Highway, Exton, PA produces and sells local honey.
While you are there, you can watch Chester County farm animals:
Pennsylvania will join states across the nation in recognizing May 2013 as National Bike Month, as well as May 13 to 17 as Bike to Work Week, and May 17 as Bike to Work Day.
“The increasing popularity of bicycle riding illustrates how important cycling is in a multi-modal transportation system,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “We encourage people to learn how to safely travel or commute by bicycle, which helps promote healthy lifestyles, increases tourism and reduces congestion on our highways.”
To commemorate Bike to Work Day, executive staff from DCNR, DEP and PennDOT will be accompanied by local cycling experts on Friday, May 17, during a five-mile community bicycle ride through Harrisburg.
Beginning at 9 a.m., the ride will start from PennDOT’s Riverfront Office Center, travel through parts of Harrisburg, City Island and the Capitol Complex; and end at the Rachel Carson State Office Building at 400 Market St., where the Spoke ’n Gear Bike Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to the public. Bicycling commuters in the Harrisburg area and those interested in learning more about bicycle commuting are especially encouraged to participate.
Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland) will kick off the expo, which will feature exhibitors and presenters addressing various bicycle commuting options and resources. Demonstrations, clinics and workshops will be offered throughout the day.
Attendees will be able to learn about the Recycle Bicycle program, including planning a bicycle community, bicycle trails, safe routes to school, Pennsylvania bicycle trips, and examples of bicycle gear and fashion.
During the expo, Capital Area Transit plans to offer a tutorial about using the bike racks on buses as well as proper bike maintenance. The Air Quality Partnership of the Susquehanna Valley will give local businesses the opportunity to apply to become a bicycle-friendly workplace.
“Not only is biking a great recreational activity, but it also benefits the environment,” Acting DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “Using a bike for short errands or commuting to work is a great way for citizens to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and improved air quality.”
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the share of Americans commuting by bike has grown by 47 percent since 2000. Bicycle-friendly communities, such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, have more than doubled their bike commuter share in that time.
“According to surveys we did for our most recent statewide outdoor recreation plan, bike lanes and paths top the list of the facilities citizens would most like to see improved or increased,” DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan said.
“We know that bicycling is a popular outdoor activity, but we are seeing more communities requesting grants and technical assistance from DCNR on how to connect trails and complete networks of trails for transportation purposes. Our goal is to help them make that happen.”
On May 15, DCNR will host a brown-bag lunch program to discuss cycling in the city of Harrisburg. The Capital Area Greenbelt Association plans to share information about the greenbelt and the opportunities it provides for bicycling in a highly developed urban area. The program will be from noon to 1 p.m. in the Rachel Carson State Office Building’s sixth floor conference room. The public is encouraged to attend.
The League of American Bicyclists started National Bike Month in 1956. Since then, it has grown to include National Bike to Work Week and Day.
For more information about Bike to Work Day, visit www.bikeharrisburg.org/schedule or email RA-EPSpokenGear_Expo@pa.gov.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the City of Philadelphia as one of 20 communities to receive a grant to conduct a planning study to guide the cleanup and reactivation of brownfield land. A $200,000 grant to Philadelphia will fund a study for a four-square-mile area of Frankford Creek, including sections of the Bridesburg, Frankford, Port Richmond and Juniata Park neighborhoods. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission applied for the grant, which was announced April 25th, and will manage the planning process. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Mayor’s Office of Grants assisted with the application process.
“Through the collaboration of the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation and the Grants Office, we received this EPA grant, which will be a critical part of the ongoing revitalization around the Frankford Creek,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I look forward to seeing the final plan and eventual revitalization of these brownfields sites.”
Gary Jastrzab, Executive Director of the City Planning Commission said, “The revitalization of this area was the focus of the recently adopted Philadelphia2035: Lower Northeast District Plan. This grant is the first step toward reusing formerly industrial properties along Frankford Creek in new and exciting ways.”
The former Philadelphia Coke and Rohm and Haas site, totaling 126 riverfront acres in the Bridesburg neighborhood, present economic development opportunities for waterfront redevelopment and community revitalization. “By comprehensively planning in partnership with the EPA, Bridesburg’s vacant brownfields can successfully be remediated and redeveloped with a dynamic mix of uses that will contribute to the city’s and region’s economic vitality” said City Councilman Bobby Henon.
Similarly, the former site of Edgewater Dyeing and Finishing presents a unique opportunity for creekside redevelopment in Frankford. “EPA’s investment in the Frankford Creek area is crucial for us to unlock the transformative potential of these brownfields sites,” said City Councilwoman María Quiñones Sánchez, whose district includes the Frankford Creek watershed. “We now have the opportunity to replace environmental contamination and vacancy with new life and economic vitality, as we have done with nearby success stories like the Globe Dye Works and Amuneal Manufacturing.”
The rehabilitation of brownfield sites will also enable the development of the Frankford Creek Greenway, a greenway that would connect Tacony Creek Park to the North Delaware Riverfront. “This planning grant provides us with an exciting opportunity to advance our trails, watershed protection, and open space objectives while connecting and engaging with communities on these vital assets,” said Michael DiBerardinis Deputy Mayor Environmental and Community Resources and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner. “We look forward to continuing to work with PCPC and other partners on this important collaborative effort.”
The EPA will award a total of $4 million to 20 communities as part of the Brownfields Area-Wide (BF AWP) Planning program, which aims to promote community revitalization by using cleanups to stimulate local economies and protect people’s health and the environment. Since the program’s inception, all EPA’s Brownfields investments have leveraged more than $19 billion in cleanup and redevelopment.