Mill Creek Tour

Mill Creek can be found on 19th century maps of Philadelphia, draining more than 4,000 acres of West Philadelphia with its main stem and several tributaries. While some of the place names associated with this stream still exist — including the Overbrook and Mill Creek neighborhoods — the stream itself was long ago obliterated within the city limits. What happened to Mill Creek? To find out, join Adam Levine and Drew Brown of the Philadelphia Water Department, on a bus tour that will explore the history of the old creek. From the headwaters of the creek, still above ground in Montgomery County, we’ll travel through West Philadelphia from Overbrook to the Schuylkill River near 43rd Street. Along the way we’ll reveal stories about the creek, the industry and farmland that used to be here, visit parks and playgrounds and community gardens, and talk about some of the consequences of burying a creek in a pipe and building a city above it. Each participant will receive an illustrated booklet highlighting the creek’s past and present, as well as a map showing where the stream once ran. All money collected from the tour will go directly to the Overbrook Environmental Education Center, which works to improve the environment of the Overbrook neighborhood through a variety of programs. Participants are welcome to learn more about the OEEC and visit its facilities at the end of the tour.

Bus will leave from and return to Overbrook Environmental Education Center, 6134 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19151. Tour will be held rain or shine, but IN CASE OF SEVER WEATHER, it may be postponed. For information, call OEEC the morning of the tour at (215) 879-7770.

(more info on attached flyer)