Here we will focus on the comprehensive watershed work on the Tookany Creek and the commitment to Clean Renewable Energy. Other accomplishments will be added to the "additional files."

Watershed Restoration: Flooding and increasing stormwater runoff have contributed to excessive pollution and destroyed streambanks threatening the aquatic and plant life of Tookany Creek. In 2000 the Township received funding from the Pennsylvania DCNR to work with neighboring communities on the watershed, analyzing its natural, recreational, cultural resources to create a Management and Protection Plan. Taking a total watershed approach, Cheltenham joined efforts with the Philadelphia Water Department for the Tookany - Tacony/Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership, in an initiative to protect, enhance, and restore the beneficial uses of the 29 square miles of the TTF waterways and riparian areas. To date, approximately $4.0 million in federal, state and county grant funds has been obtained for streambank restoration, stabilization and enhancement efforts.

2003 - Watershed Management Plan completed and adopted. 

1. Cheltenham conducted numerous community outreach events planting native plants along the stream banks of the Tookany and its tributaries.
2. Installed educational signage along the stream bank to educate the public about the efforts.
3. Volunteer groups have hosted Rain Barrel Workshops, park cleanups, as well as native plantings at local schools and businesses.,

2005 -2006, The Township adopted new Comprehensive and Open Space Plans, both of which include actions on watershed restoration, suburban greening and restoring the community's urban forest as high priority implementation projects for the next ten years.

2007 - Invasive Species Removal and Landscape Management Program - Cheltenham Township has begun to reverse ecological damage from significant invasive species by environmentally sensitive eradication and restoration of the woodlands, riparian areas along streambanks, grasslands, and wetlands of the Township parks with native plants.

1. Over $175,000 in state grants have helped to restore an eight acre stretch of the streambank with native plants to help increase the fish and wildlife habitats in the Township.
2. No-mow zones within the eight acres of these parks in order to prevent NPS pollution runoff and increase the wildlife habitat.

 Clean Renewable Energy - The Community Power! Conference, Produced by Quiet Riot, a Cheltenham-based performance team, Arcadia University, and Montco Progressives 9/30/06, @ Arcadia University - This volunteer effort focused on solutions to the Twin Crises of Peak Oil and Global Warming. More than 200 attendees participated in lectures and action step seminars on: multi-use neighborhoods with diverse transportation, energy conservation & community-produced solar power and locally grown organic food. The Community Power Network was then created for collaborative Eco-Education on strategic legislative action and branding in the Delaware Valley

"Cheltenham: A Solar Energy Township within 10 Years" 9/2907, 150+ citizens attended presentations from Six Eco-Energy authorities to discuss disruptive technology/innovative, solar roofing systems, capital investment/solar rental, citizen action and Pennsylvania Energy Policy.

Numerous energy efficiency projects have been completed in Township facilities/ operations including, all traffic signals switched over to LED, lighting upgrades in 2 libraries and in the Administration building. "Clean Communities Renewable Energy Program" Cheltenham is currently, one of 22 local governments in southeastern Pennsylvania who have committed to purchasing 20% clean energy by 2010. Because Cheltenham is among the first of the 22 to reach the goal of 200 of new clean energy sign-ups, they will receive a 1kW solar energy system as a symbol of their leadership. ,Aec Both the Cheltenham Commissioners and the Cheltenham Teachers Union have already agreed to purchase 20% of all municipal buildings' electricity from clean, renewable energy sources by 2010.

Cheltenham Township is a Montgomery County community with a big story to tell. At the turn of the 20th century, Cheltenham's millionaire residents invested in the natural beauty of their community. Families such as the Wideners, Wanamakers, Curtis', Elkins, and Stetsons spent their time and money creating a wildlife center and an arboretum, constructing a grand parkway along Tookany Creek to protect it from development and preserving open space. Their gracious homes and grounds had a country air with easy access to Philadelphia via the regional rail lines they brought to Cheltenham. More than one hundred years of development has stressed the natural systems and infrastructure of Cheltenham, rallying tremendous community interest and support for resource preservation and enhancement particularly within the past 12 years.

Efforts from citizen volunteer groups, the public and private school communities, religious institutions, colleges and universities and of course leadership from the Township Administration has shaped this municipality into an exemplary role model as a sustainable community.

With a population of 35,000, Cheltenham is graced with outstanding natural assets including the Tookany Creek and its tributaries, over 350 acres of public parks and open space and over 400 locally significant historic and cultural resources. It is also has five SEPTA train stations and four regional rail and numerous bus lines that service the community.

The nexus of citizen action and local government support, through superb grantsmanship, has resulted in a huge array of successful projects and environmental accomplishments. Sustainability is a re-occurring theme through neighborhood groups like the Melrose Park Neighbors association or Friends of Ralph Morgan Park that plant trees, collect trash or participate in stream monitoring. The Elkins Park and Glenside Commercial District enhancements have emphasized recycling stations, street tree planting and effective stormwater management, understanding that good environmental practices lead to successful businesses. Government policies, such as no-mow zones to reduce runoff and invasive species eradication preserve the quality of native plant life and surface water quality.

Sustainability is particularly critical for the Township's most treasured natural resource, Tookany Creek. Both the residents and the government are so committed to the watershed concept that Cheltenham has been the primary convener of the upstream communities of Abington, Jenkintown and Rockledge to address the issues of the stressed Tookany / Tacony Watershed. With leadership from Cheltenham, the communities worked to complete a comprehensive watershed management plan in 2003. Cheltenham also has developed a strong inter-municipal working relationship with the Philadelphia Water Department on the Tookany - Tacony/Frankford Watershed Partnership contributing to protection of the total watershed until it discharges into the Delaware River. During this period, a citizen group with support from the Township created High School Park, an 11 acre natural oasis on the site of the former Cheltenham High School with Tookany Creek as its backbone. Its three distinct natural environments including a meadow, woodlands and a streambank ecosystem of native species beautiful the community, control surface runoff and improve the water quality and acquatic life in the Tookany. For these efforts and more the Tookany was designated by the EPA as a 5 Star Restoration site. The Five Star Restoration program is a voluntary restoration effort involving at least five different organizations. At Tookany, Cheltenham organized 11 partners in the project. Grant funds were issued for native plantings, educational signage and stream bank restoration.

The Cheltenham community recognizes the interdependency of natural systems and the value of protecting and restoring them for future generations.

More that 12 years of restoration along the Tookany have resulted in improved water quality as proven by the return of native aquatic species such as sonnies, blue gills, and water fowl such as mallards and blue heron. It is intended that water quality improve to the extent that American Shad will again return to the area. More than 1.5 miles of native plants such as arrowleaf viburnim, silky dogwood, great blue lobelia, red twig dogwood, sassafras, black gum, and black willow have been planted along the creek as a riparian buffer.

These efforts have resulted in decreased siltation, which has stabilized trees with fewer coming down along the banks, reduced streambed scouring and allowed for reduced build up of debris and obstructions. The planted area has increased wildlife with silver and red fox sitings and residential use of the parkway area for running, biking and walking.

Mandatory recycling in Cheltenham has earned more than $200,000 for the Township each year in reduced tipping fees and $12,000- $15,000 annually from the sale of recycled materials.

New policies such as the purchase of alternative energy, establishment of a no-mow zone, the expected opening of a LEED -AE certified school in 2008, the School District committing to green cleaning for all Township schools and the creation of the Environmental Advisory Council are assurances that Cheltenham will continue to evolve as a healthy and sustainable community.