2024 – 2025 Stormwater Grant Awardees Announced!

From a historic cemetery to a flamingo habitat, an assortment of local sites will receive green infrastructure – thanks to the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD).

Every year, we grant non-residential properties with funding to install new green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). We’re thrilled to share 11 new properties accepting this well-established award to improve local waterways.

These projects spruce up outdoor spaces and cut down water bills – all while reducing combined sewer overflow and stormwater pollution in our creeks and rivers.

During this past fiscal year, more than $12,000,000 in grants have been allocated for these retrofits – installing GSI on existing properties.

“We are excited to highlight this year’s stormwater grant awardees, ” says Beth Anne Lutes, PWD’s Stormwater Billing and Incentives Manager. “The projects we selected align with PWD’s mission to provide critical stormwater services to our community while also protecting the environment. Each unique project will not only benefit the individual properties but the Philadelphia community as a whole by managing stormwater at the source.”

Since the conception of Green City, Clean Waters nearly 15 years ago, we’ve installed GSI retrofits on hundreds of properties through our Stormwater Incentives. These projects total more than $202 million granted to non-residential property owners over the past decade!

Approximately 31 percent of the Greened Acres implemented to date were made possible by non-residential properties taking advantage of our Stormwater Incentives, including the Grants Program. (Each Greened Acre manages nearly 30,000 gallons of stormwater runoff during a one-inch rainstorm – or about a SEPTA bus-sized load of polluted water!)

Bears, Flamingos, and Building Infrastructure

Serving as a habitat for more than 1,900 rare and endangered animals, the oldest zoo in the United States is adding stormwater management systems to its array of sustainability efforts.

The upcoming Carey Bear Country and recently unveiled Flamingo Cove at the Philadelphia Zoo,  located in West Philadelphia, received more $1 million in funding for an adjacent new rain garden and subsurface basin, which will manage more than 2 Greened Acres. The project will be constructed by NV5.

The new Flamingo Cove repurposed the original 1927 aviary with a three-foot deep wading pool where the animals can swim, nesting islands for breeding, and more features to benefit the birds.

The new Carey Bear Country, which is being built using sustainable practices, includes the extension of the Zoo360 trail system and the addition of a third bear habitat.  Home to sloth bears and Andean bears, the new extended area will allow more space for the animals to breed and raise cubs.

W. P. Carey Foundation has pledged lead charitable support for this effort and the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, William Penn Foundation, Foxwynd Foundation, and Zoo community provided additional and ongoing support.

“As the region’s foremost conservation organization, we are grateful to have been awarded a GSI grant from the Philadelphia Water Department and advance our mission of advocating for wildlife and protecting wild places,” said Philadelphia Zoo Chief Integrated Operations Officer Kristen Waldron. “The Zoo is actively transforming its campus to create new exhibits and spaces where we can model to guests the importance of creating healthy ecosystems in our urban environment. The newly reimagined Carey Bear Country will showcase rain gardens that not only address stormwater management and pollution filtration, but also provide critical habitats for local wildlife. Carey Bear Country, which is slated to open in Spring 2026 will transform the heart of the Zoo and create lifelong memories for Zoo guests.”

Once the infrastructure is installed, the zoo will save approximately 5% on their average monthly water bill.

Planting (more) seeds for a green future

The School District of Philadelphia has assisted as a key stakeholder of Green City, Clean Waters since the initiative’s genesis in 2011.

Six new schoolyards across the city are only growing this long standing partnership. Currently, more than 50 School District of Philadelphia schoolyards have formerly worked with us to implement green stormwater infrastructure on their properties.

Over the years, some of these schoolyard projects have even inspired lessons outside of the classroom. In 2014, the School District of Philadelphia and the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center developed the Understanding the Urban Watershed curriculum guide.

The resource was designed to educate middle school students on topics such as drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and watershed stewardship, including involving students in the maintenance of on-site stormwater management systems.

“The School District of Philadelphia is striving to make greener, cleaner, and healthier schoolyards to welcome all students to school,” Emma Melvin, Green Infrastructure Program Manager of the School District of Philadelphia, has told us. “These green schoolyards will provide a place of respite, to play and learn while teaching students about environmental stewardship.”

This year’s winners include:

• Stephen Girard School
• James Logan Schoolyard
• John H. Webster Schoolyard
• Lamberton Elementary
• Overbrook Elementary Schoolyard
• James J. Sullivan School

Project managers for these constructions include the School District of Philadelphia, Rodriguez, SALT, the Trust for Public Land, Ground Reconsidered, Grist, and AKRF.

Collectively, these six public schools will manage nearly 11 Greened Acres – or nearly 330,000 gallons of stormwater runoff during a one-inch rainstorm!

Additionally, these schools will save anywhere from 7 to 44% on their monthly water bills. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, a private Pre-K to 12 school, is also receiving a new rain garden. The project is an example of a hybrid development project. This type of installation meets both regulatory requirements and manages stormwater above and beyond what is required by the regulations. The new rain garden will help mitigate drainage and erosion issues along Valley Green Road near Wissahickon Valley Park.

Life sprouts in a cemetery

A planted stormwater basin outside of Holmesburg Baptist Church will resemble the rain garden planned for Gloria Dei Episcopal Church (Image: PWD)

A house of worship established in the late 1600s will improve the local environment for generations to come.

Gloria Dei Episcopal Church was first built at its Queen Village location in 1677 before being replaced by another structure in 1700, which still stands today. The cemetery next to the church has been in continuous use for over three centuries.

Today, the South Philadelphia religious and cultural institution received nearly $500,000 from PWD for the construction of a rain garden, which will be built by Brandywine Stormwater and manage one Green Acre of stormwater.

The new installation aligns with the church’s mission – serving its property, its parishioners, and its greater purpose.

“As the oldest church in Pennsylvania, our congregation is called to care for the resources and traditions entrusted to us – and the many communities who enjoy our space,” says The Rev. Dr. Chris Micklewright, Rector of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Episcopal Church. “This stormwater grant allows us to better care for the world God created, especially the gift of water. We are also excited to incorporate rain gardens into a more welcoming entrance to our property, inviting visitors to learn about sustainability and appreciate the beauty of creation.”

After construction is complete, the church will save approximately 58% on their average monthly water bill.

Congratulations to all of our 2024-2025 Stormwater Grant Awardees!

• 2024R Upland Way
• Stephen Girard School
• James Logan Schoolyard Improvements
• Philadelphia Zoo’s Bear Country & Flamingo Habitat Renovation
• Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
• Gloria Dei Episcopal Church
• John H. Webster Schoolyard
• Lamberton Elementary
• Overbrook Elementary Schoolyard Improvements
• 4807 Westminster Ave
• James J. Sullivan School

Learn more about the 2024-2025 Stormwater Grant Recipients!

Interested in a Stormwater Retrofit Grant?

Our next grant deadline is October 17th, 2025.

Pre-application meetings for the fall Grant Deadline will open on August 1st, 2025!

Be sure to check our website for the most up-to-date resources and sign up for the Stormwater Grants email newsletter.

There are various ways to utilize the Stormwater Grants Evaluation Criteria outlined in our Stormwater Grants Application Guide. The rubric tackles criteria such as:

• Community Impact
• Greening
• Cost Effectiveness
• Project Funding
• Maximizing Drainage Area
• Strong Property Owner Involvement

Get Connected!

Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for Stormwater Connect — an online tool designed to link green stormwater vendors with non-residential property owners.

Vendors sign up and complete a profile with their specialties, they can start searching for potential projects that align with their expertise.

When a property owner signs up, they will find a list of vendors that match their needs using filters, such as experience building particular GSI, and vendors they’re interested in are notified.

From there, vendors can request a direct follow-up. Once connected, they can confirm what is possible on the non-residential site and a Stormwater Grant team partnership can be formed.

Then, the team applies for a grant, which can cover up to 100% of design and construction costs.