The Spring Garden Civic Association ("SGCA") is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit community organization dedicated to creating and preserving a high quality of life for all residents, and ensuring the integrity of our residential neighborhood, Historic District, and Commercial Corridors through...
  • Overseeing Zoning, Historic, and LCB matters in the community, and guiding re-development and new construction projects in a manner that is sensitive to our neighborhood's Victorian heritage and Historic District standards
  • Maintaining clean, safe, and attractive tree-lined streets, and a well-kept family Playground and community gardens
  • Keeping members informed of happenings around the neighborhood and City through a combination of general meetings, email alerts/notices, and periodic newsletters
  • Supporting vibrant commercial corridors and residential areas
  • Fostering well-being, inclusiveness, and diversity throughout our community
Our neighborhood is located between Spring Garden Street and Fairmount Avenue, from Broad Street to Pennsylvania Avenue/Fairmount Park.  The area was the City's original Victorian neighborhood and was first developed for the newly emerging class of well-to-do industrialists in the mid-to-late 19th century. Virtually the entire neighborhood has been designated as a City of Philadelphia Historic District. We are bordered by major cultural institutions, including the Community College of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, and the Rodin Museum.  

Services

The SGCA provides a number of volunteer-based services that are critical to maintaining a safe, vibrant, attractive community. We hold general meetings, sponsor social events, organize 2-4 cleanups and 2 tree plantings a year, assist residents and businesses with zoning and historical matters, host monthly meetings with the 9th District Police, subsidize home security cameras around the neighborhood, provide assistance to the local grade school and neighborhood youths, and work cooperatively with other Spring Garden community groups to assist in and promote neighborhood improvement projects.
​Below is a list of Civic Association Committees and detailed descriptions of some of the more prominent initiatives the SGCA helps facilitate around the neighborhood. For more information on helping with Committee services, please email sgcaphilly@gmail.com, or call (215) 236-7334.

SGCA Committees

  • Zoning - Oversees zoning, historical and PA Liquor Control Board issues
  • Anti-Crime - Sponsors monthly meetings with Police to discuss crime and quality of life issues
  • Trees - Applies for, and coordinates the planting of free street trees twice a year, waters and maintains trees year round
  • Clean Streets - Organizes 2 (Spring and Fall) or more community clean-up events annually
  • Welcome/Social - Helps set up and plan for the general membership meetings and holds social events
  • Garden/Playground - Supports the maintenance and oversight of community gardens and playgrounds
  • Membership - Recruits new members and volunteers
  • Communication - Sends out notices, writes and sends newsletters
  • Block Captains - provides information about individual block issues and works to improve quality of life issues

Zoning

The SGCA is a Registered Community Organization (RCO) with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission for purposes of dealing with zoning matters in our area.  The Zoning Committee is responsible for evaluating every request for a Zoning Variance and Special Exception sought by a developer, business owner, or neighbor.  The committee holds the required RCO meetings for every zoning request, and acts as our neighborhood's liaison to the City of Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment regarding zoning matters in our area.
​If you have a matter involving your property that is, or may be, going to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance or certificate, and your property is within Spring Garden boundaries,  please contact the SGCA Zoning Committee at 215-802-0334, or email sgcaphilly@gmail.com.

Anti-Crime

The 9th District Police Service Area #3 (PSA #3)  is responsible for the Spring Garden, Fairmount, and Francisville neighborhoods among others.  The SGCA hosts monthly meetings on the 3rd Monday of every month at 601 N 17th Street, 2nd floor conference room (entrance on Mt. Vernon St.), beginning at 7pm.  All neighbors are invited to attend, meet with police personnel, raise concerns about crime and safety in the area, and find out about the latest crime fighting strategies.

Trees

The SGCA is able to offer free community trees courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's (PHS) TreeVitalize Program.  We also sponsor tree care training for interested community members through the PHS Tree Tenders Program.
​Trees provide numerous benefits to the neighborhood, including soaking up ground water, providing cooling in the summer months, absorbing CO2 and generating oxygen, and creating a welcoming, more attractive environment that increases property values, reduces crime, and improves health.
For more information on whether or not you qualify for a free tree, as well as volunteer tree-planting or PHS Tree Tenders opportunities, please email sgcaphilly@gmail.com.