On Saturday, the Little Flower Planeteers led an earth day cleanup in Hunting Park. The Planateers started last school year when a group of four sophomores set out to create a club based around environmental conservation and sustainability. Since then, they have led many initiatives, most notably last week when they sold potted seedlings during lunch periods. Their goal is to raise enough money to eventually plant four trees on the Little Flower Campus, one for each grade level.  

The Planeteers were joined by several other students and teachers. A recent graduate, Amanda Sweeney ‘20 also stopped by to volunteer her time. For three hours this group worked diligently in the Hunting Park neighborhood cleaning up trash and debris. Little Flower Planeteers joined forces with a local resident, Ashley Knox, who has been leading her own group of volunteers helping keep Hunting Park a safe, clean place for the neighborhood. Their next community cleanup will be on May 15th, where all are encouraged to join. 

We continue to partner with neighborhood community groups such as Chris Gale from the Lenfest Center on North 10th Street. A special thanks also goes out to Greg Stepp and the entire Hunting Park recreation team for their help. Such efforts go a long way in keeping the Hunting Park neighborhood clean. Little Flower’s ultimate goal is to host Clean Up Days every month, partnering with local volunteer organizations. They are also looking for ways to develop more green spaces in the neighborhood. Little Flower is a vital part of the Hunting Park neighborhood. Parents, alums and students are welcome to participate in these environmental initiatives. 

Stretching back to the 1800’s, Hunting Park has been a staple of Northeast Philadelphia. Originally, owned by James Logan, the Colonial Mayor of Philadelphia, Hunting Park served as his hunting grounds for deer. Since then, it has provided the Hunting Park community with an outdoor space to walk, play and enjoy the outdoors. In 2012, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Ryan Howard Family Foundation and Citizens Bank Foundation, dedicated $717,000 for a new baseball field in Hunting Park. The Ryan Howard Field, along with the Park’s multi-sport turf field, running track, and tennis courts welcome community members every day to enjoy.