Editor's note: The last names of the students quoted in this story are withheld because they are minors.
Three Kensington-area organizations turned an empty lot at Westmoreland and H streets into a pop-up park Tuesday, drawing neighbors of all ages to a one-day event focused on the benefits of green space.
The event, called Dirt Day, was hosted by Esperanza Health Center, Heights Philadelphia and the New Kensington Community Development Corporation, or NKCDC.
In near-90-degree heat, children, students and older residents painted flowerpots, dug for vegetables and helped build a garden bed.
Several high school seniors ran activity tables where visitors could stop by and learn about gardening and nature.
The students were part of the Heights Health Equity program, which Esperanza and Heights Philadelphia run together. Esperanza is a federally qualified health center, and Heights is a youth education nonprofit. The program gives students interested in health care a chance to learn through hands-on experience.
“With the program, we got the opportunity to shadow nurses, physicians and a lot of other people in the healthcare profession … and see a little bit of what their job is like at different Esperanza buildings,” said Nudia, a high school senior. “Today we are participating in a pop-up park where we bring some fun to the community, especially with the weather.”
Emily, another high school student, said the program has helped her better understand health and community service.
“We learn more about health, and we get to know about it as a high school student and really appreciate every moment here,” Emily said. “Today, we are here to support the community with some trees, some food, and people gathering together.”
Martha Victoria, Esperanza’s community programs coordinator, said the event gave students a chance to see the value of what they had been learning.
“I’m most excited that the students can finally see what they’ve been learning, like the importance of green space and how that is not just related to physical health, but mental health, social health … you’re making an impact in the community,” Victoria said.
NKCDC joined the collaboration through its Co-Creating a Greenprint for Kensington event series, which launched in January.
“A lot of the teens that are out here, we’ve seen them at the start of our programming to now, and just the amount of confidence that they have with gardening, being outside, taking care of the neighborhood and genuinely being stewards of their own community is really amazing,” said Schylerr Gilmore, an urban agriculture associate with NKCDC.
Gilmore said watching kids enjoy the space was a highlight of the day.
“I’m hoping I can get a little group of little ones to run around and chase each other with me,” Gilmore said. “Just being outside and in the community, it’s a beautiful day.”
