I agree with you Shaidar about saving the remaining open spaces in the Eastwick area. I am an americorps Vista at John Heinz Refuge and I am trying to do more community outreach regarding the Refuge and public health. Not only for the birds, the refuge is a great place for people to experience nature and see what it used to look like here before the area was developed. Email me at saraa.kenney@gmail.com if you're interested in the Refuge.

I grew up in Southwest Phila./Eastwick. I have seen the gradual decline of open space in this area, primarily due to the expansion of airport parking, and the Auto Mall. As you all know, John Heinz Wildlife Refuge is an open space jewel in this area of the city. But no attempt is being made to leave a corridor of open space around the refuge. What were open fields are now asphalt parking lots filled with cars. Read any environmental publication and they warn about isolated parks and refuges. It doesn't work. Animals & birds will not be confined to one small area. They need to move in corridors between areas. We need to preserve more open space in SouthWest Philadelphia. The corridors could be the areas around train tracks. Some of the fields in Southwest need to be preserved from industrialization. I used to see grouse in the fields and an occassional pheasant, but, alas, they are long gone.

Southwest is also in dire need of trees in the older neighborhoods.

I believe these are very important issues.