Love Where You Live Unity Day 2025 at Tioga Hope Garden

Greening the Neighborhood, Growing a Movement

On Friday, August 22, 2025 (rain date Saturday, August 23, 2025), North Philadelphia’s Tioga Hope Garden will come alive with energy, gratitude, and greenery as the Love Where You Live Unity Day celebration takes root. Hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), this spirited gathering of over 200 residents, local leaders, and community partners marks the successful conclusion of the first phase of the Love Where You Live (LWYL) Greening Plan—a visionary, grassroots initiative that has transformed the Nicetown and Tioga neighborhoods block by block.

Since launching in 2022, Love Where You Live has turned environmental challenges into opportunities for empowerment. The numbers alone are impressive: over 1.2 million square feet of vacant land cleaned and greened, more than 400 trees planted, 3,615 daily green jobs created, and 12 community gardens supported. But the deeper story of the Love Where You Live Unity Day is the one told through the neighbors who’ve traded asphalt for arugula, litter for legacy, and disconnection for community pride.

This celebration will feature live local music, family-friendly activities, food, and a mini resource fair spotlighting PHS’s Healthy Neighborhood programs. It’s not just a party—it’s a powerful reflection of how beautification, job creation, and environmental stewardship can rebuild the soul of a community. In the words of PHS Director of Community Gardens, Adam Hill, “Love Where You Live is about building pride, connection, and stewardship. Unity Day highlights the impact of residents’ participation and sets the stage for the next phase of this successful program.”

Love Where You Live Unity Day: A Glimpse at the Future of Philly’s Green Growth

The Love Where You Live Unity Day is a victory lap and a springboard into the next phase of the program—one fueled by fresh investment, strategic planning, and deeper community collaboration. Thanks to support from the William Penn Foundation, an 18-month planning process will begin following Unity Day to expand the initiative, sustain green jobs, enhance tree care, improve fresh food access, and grow the influence of neighborhood-led projects. This future-focused phase will build on the undeniable momentum already established.

As Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, puts it: “This program exemplifies how gardening and green spaces are vital tools for community resilience and well-being.” The transformation of Nicetown and Tioga has proven that when residents are trusted with the tools and resources to shape their own environment, extraordinary things happen—from cleaner streets to deeper connections between neighbors.

The Love Where You Live Unity Day celebration will serve as both a look back and a look forward—honoring years of sweat equity and setting the tone for an even more connected and sustainable future. It’s a milestone that reaffirms Philadelphia’s legacy of civic pride and serves as a beacon for how urban greening can directly uplift lives.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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