Garden Court Community Association

04/01/2026

New raised beds constructed at Lea School thanks to the hard work of our neighbors. 💪🏿

03/12/2026

An opportunity to get involved, meet your neighbors and help out the Lea School. Join us for a mulch spreading day between 9-11am at the Lea School yard on Spruce st.

03/03/2026

We had the honor of hosting representatives from PAUL ROBESON HOUSE at tonight’s March meeting of GCCA.

It is a local treasure!
Visit Wednesday through Saturday!

01/03/2026

Join the GCCA meeting this Monday Jan 5 for a presentation from Olivia Boon of the PWD. Olivia will be speaking about green stormwater infrastructure projects planned for West Philadelphia. Join us at 7:30 in the first floor lounge of the Garden Court Towers apartment (4701 Pine). Seating limited so please email [email protected] to indicate your attendance.

10/15/2025

Fall is the time to show your love for our neighborhood parks with three upcoming fall cleanups in November 🥰🍁

🍂Barkan Park @ 1PM, Nov 9
🍂Garden Court Gardens and Tennis Courts @ 10AM, Nov 15
🍂Malcom X Park @ 10AM, Nov 15

10/15/2025

On Sunday, 10/19, from 3-6 PM, I’m hosting a
‘Restoration in Progress” tour at 4701 Baltimore.
If you can document that you are a current GCCA member, (or join /renew during this Open House), you can tour the entire property.
If not, I’ll still show you the Store and First and 2nd Floors.
In either case, there will be sweets and snacks and beverages for all comers.

4701 has commercial zoning, and the ‘by-right’ uses could have included Tear-down, many Apartments and / or Retail uses not needed or wanted on this corner.

The wonderful Seller, Fred Wolfe, and I were able to come to agreements that preserved much of his pollinator garden, and freshened many of the beautiful improvements he and Gary made to the interior.

This is my ‘Senior-age’ passion project.
I’m hoping the residential rents cover the expenses of the ‘Store’ space.
And I’m looking to donate some use of the store to non-profit groups, artists and others who are useful in building community.

I was born to 43rd and Larchwood, and my mother Mary, always longed for a big home close to “The Catholic Power Corner”, (47th and Springfield).
Sunday is the 115th anniversary of my Dad’s birth.
I think both would adore the view of the dome from the front windows.

8/8 was my 70th birthday and my 40th Anniversary with Larry Motyka.
I still grieve the losses of 10 Siblings, a goddaughter, both parent and in 2025 two very dear friends.
So, I welcome good neighbors to pop-in to celebrate life and love, successes and losses,
preserving beautiful details from our past, while embracing progress and new neighbors.

If you want to bring a “Pot Luck” to share with our neighbors, I will gratefully accept. I’ve got lots of coolers, tables and shelf space.

Go Eagles!🦅

10/12/2025

🎃YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THINGS WICKED IN WEST: The West Philly Fright Registry is a free resource created by neighbors for trick or treaters and Halloween enthusiasts of all ages in the area from 45-60th St and Market to Baltimore (ish- not a hard boundary). The Registry is a list and map of locations in the area that
will be giving out candy, and/or putting up decorations, and/or hosting other spooky festivities on Halloween and the weeks leading up to it. 👻

You can register your house at tinyurl.com/wphillyfright
and view the map at tinyurl.com/wphillyfrightmap. If you have any questions, you can reach out to [email protected].

07/13/2025

🚨 Heads up, West Philly & trolley riders! 🚨

The 2025 Trolley Blitz is officially running from July 11–August 11.

SEPTA crews will be deep-cleaning, upgrading tracks, fixing power lines, and getting the tunnels ready for a smoother, safer ride.

That means no trolley service in the Center City tunnel for a month — routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 will begin AND end at 40th & Market. Heading back into West, riders can board the MFL at 13th Street and connect with trolley routes at 40th Street,

🛑 Need to head downtown? You can take the MFL from 40th Street, or hop on Bus 21 or 42 to keep moving.

The silver lining is: no major trolley shutdown next summer, since 2026 is packed with citywide events!

Read more about the closures >> https://www.universitycity.org/news/septa-trolley-tunnel-blitz-running-from-july-11th-august-11th-2025/

07/13/2025

Back at uCity Square for its second year, the Katika Festival is a vibrant and family-friendly celebration of commerce, culture, and community. The free festival will feature over 50 local food and retail vendors, live performances across gospel, R&B, jazz, and hip hop, a captivating magic show,

07/13/2025

We can't believe we have to point this out, but the Fifth Amendment applies to people, not just citizens. When the Constitution is under attack, we've got to be loud! Grab our new Fifth Amendment bumper sticker and make your voice heard! UV Laminated White Polypropylene Suitable for indoor + outdoor...

07/13/2025

07/13/2025

Here's what's happening ! We know it's toasty out, so come enjoy some shade and cool breezes amid these 50 acres.

In case of any weather-related cancellations, all updates will be posted on our website calendar and on socials.

Saturday, July 12
🚲Free Bike Rentals: 12–2pm
Youth and adult bikes and helmets available. Register in advance to get updates on weather cancellations.

🍅Sankofa Farm Stand: 11am–3pm
Shop the Black Farmers Market at the Get Fresh Daily Freedom Garden, 5200 Pine Street. Cash, EBT, Senior's and WIC Farmer's Market vouchers accepted.

🛶Free Boating: 3–7pm
Enjoy the Tidal Schuylkill River! All equipment and instruction provided. First come, first served.

🚴Kids' Learn-to-Ride: 10am–12pm SOLD OUT!
Learn-to-ride biking basics for kids 4–16. No waitlist available.

[ID: A photograph of blooming prickly pear cactus, with delicate lemon-colored blooms visible among spiky green lobes. The photo is overlaid with colorful blocks showing event details. "This Weekend in the Garden" and the Bartram's Garden logo appear in white.]

Get Fresh Daily Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram's Garden Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia