The area of Pennypack Park near the concert state will be spray for mosquitoes Thursday night.

Weather permitting, the city’s Department  of Public Health will apply mosquito-control treatments tonight to parts of Pennypack Park.

The targeted area gets a lot of use — the stage area where the park holds its Summer Concert Series.  Spraying will begin this evening in the park between Rhawn Street, Welsh Road, Cresco Avenue and Pennypack Creek, and that part of the park will closed then.

The department’s Vector Control staff will apply an aerosol mist that kills mosquitoes on contact, helping to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. Anvil 10 + 10, a synthetic pyrethroid, has no residual effects and no ill effects on humans, according to the Department of Public Health. continue reading »

Police officers are investigating an alleged rape in Pennypack Park early Wednesday morning.

A woman tells authorities she was walking on the 8200-block of Cresco Avenue around 2:45 a.m. when she was approached by a man who punched her and dragged her into the park near the concert stage. continue reading »

Mike Bobby, John Duffy and Steve Phillips keep watch on Fox Chase

They are the eyes and ears of the Fox Chase community. Since 1995 The Fox Chase Town Watch has patrolled the streets of Fox Chase, alerting police to incidents and making note of ongoing problems that need police attention. Steve Phillips, current president of the Watch, has been a member since 1995. Membership is open to residents 18 years and older.

Members receive training, but rule No. 1 is to remember as a member you are not a law enforcement officer. Phillips became involved after the death of Eddie Polec, “Witnessing the death of Ed Polec has been my motivation for the last 17  years. I said to myself, this will not happen again, and that is why I do this.” continue reading »

A scenic view of the Pennypack Creek

The Pennypack Environmental Center sits on the palisades of the Pennypack Creek just off Verree Road on the northern edge of Fox Chase. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Guides offer a historical overview of the center and the gallery contains numerous examples of wildlife that populate this section of Pennypack Park. Adjacent to the center are the Verree House and servants quarters that are the only remnants of Verreeville, a small mill town that once dominated the area. continue reading »

Residents are advised to avoid the area of the Pennypack Creek between Roosevelt Boulvard and Bustleton Avenue after a Fairmount Park ranger captured a rabid beaver there.

The beaver, suspected of three attacks between Wednesday and Thursday, will be taken to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Chester County and tested for rabies. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Tuesday – A gas leak slowed traffic Tuesday morning near Aramingo Avenue and Wakeling Street. PGW shut down and repaired the main while Aramingo Avenue and Tacony, Wakeling, Bridge and James streets were closed temporarily. continue reading »

Holmesburg Fish & Game's John Kevlock talks about a proposed barrier between the organization and the Delaware waterfront.

John Kevlock of Holmesburg Fish & Game says he’s been working closely and productively with groups representing Fairmount/Pennypack Park and the Delaware Waterfront to unite the three as plans for a waterfront trail move forward.

As Kevlock explained at last night’s Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, a wall will need to be constructed in the park to separate Holmesburg Fish & Game and the Police Academy from the trail, so pellets and bullets don’t disrupt the trail. Video below. continue reading »

Wesley Enhanced Living Pennypack Park resident Gino Azzena competes in the second annual Wesley Enhanced Living Wii Bowling Tournament vs. Wesley Enhanced Living Upper Moreland. Photo courtesy of Wesley Enhanced Living.

The Northeast proved victorious when seniors from the Wesley Enhanced Living Pennypack Park retirement community battled their counterparts at Wesley Enhanced Living Upper Moreland in a Wii bowling match last week.

The two eight-member teams competed for the tournament title as friends and residents from both communities cheered them on. continue reading »

Wesley Enhanced Living's Pennypack Park staff won Thursday's Gingerbread House Wars. Photo supplied by WEL.

Wesley Enhanced Living’s five regional locations participated in Gingerbread House Wars Thursday. WEL’s Pennypack retirement community hosted the event, which pitted the five teams against each other. continue reading »

Fox Chase Homeowners Association President Matt Braden

The focus of last night’s Fox Chase Homeowners Association/Town Watch meeting was Go Ape!, and adventure course looking to take root in Pennypack Park.

The UK-based Go Ape! first introduced itself to the Northeast at last month’s Friends of Pennypack Park meeting, where members hotly contested the idea of using the park as an adventure destination. continue reading »