Advancing water and greening infrastructure in Philadelphia

Resilient Communities Stormwater Initiative

The Resilient Communities Stormwater Initiative (RCSI) is and effort by grantees funded by the William Penn Foundation to promote green infrastructure (GI) and urban greening in underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods. The RCSI team includes Greenprint, The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, The Nature Conservancy, PEER Environmental, Clean Water Action and Hinge Collective. Together, we’re working to plan, construct and fundraise for projects, amplify community voices and advance policies and research. 

The RCSI looked at environmental and social factors to identify five neighborhoods that would benefit most from GI and greening investments. After a series of roundtable discussions, meetings and tours, Kingsessing was selected as the focus neighborhood for RCSI’s efforts in 2024 and 2025.

Kingsessing’s GI and greening projects are guided by the community in two main ways. First, RCSI worked with residents to write the Kingsessing Green Vision Plan. This plan outlines the community’s priority improvements such as community gardens, streetscape and placemaking features, and GI. Second, there is a highly involved team of resident leaders, the Kingsessing Working Group. They provide feedback, set project priorities, connect RCSI to property owners and oversee individual projects.

Greenprint plays a key role by helping organizations apply for GI funding through the Philadelphia Water Department’s Stormwater Grants Program. We begin by researching community institutions, like schools and houses of worship, that could benefit from GI projects. After identifying potential partners, we reach out to gauge their interest and assist them with the application process. We also work with the Philadelphia Housing Authority to find affordable housing communities that would benefit from GI investments. Once funding is secured, our team manages the entire project, from community outreach and engagement to design and construction.

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