Mayor's Message 7/7/2021

Mayor’s Message
July 7, 2021

Good evening, I have a couple of updates…

I hope everyone enjoyed the Independence Day holiday weekend, including the fireworks display at Upper Darby High School on Friday night. This display was professionally coordinated, and the two large “fireballs” explosions that appeared at the end of the display were intentionally planned and were set off under strict supervision. Thanks to the team at Celebration Fireworks for doing an excellent job and for ensuring that everything went smoothly and according to plan and to our guest DJ who did a fantastic job.  

While the overall number of positive COVID-19 cases in our area is continuing to decline, the number of unvaccinated people who have been contracting the Delta variant of the virus is rising across the country. It is in everyone’s best interest to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible if you have not yet done so. To find a vaccination site near you, please call 484-276-2100 or visit www.delcopa.gov/vax.   

A reminder about weekly yard waste collection in Upper Darby: Yard waste is defined as leaves, garden residues, shrubbery and tree trimmings and similar material. Please note that grass clippings are NOT considered yard waste. Please do not use plastic bags to recycle yard waste or single-stream recycling; instead, place your yard waste in biodegradable paper bags, which are available at local hardware stores, or place the yard waste loosely in trash cans without bags. Yard waste is collected on your regular recycling pick-up day, not on trash pick-up days. 

The goats from Amazing Grazing are slated to return to Gillespie Park on Saturday, July 17th, to remove the invasive growth from the park’s landscape. Be sure to follow Upper Darby Government on social media so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Facebook and LinkedIn at “upperdarby” and on Instagram and Twitter at “upperdarbypa”.    

Upper Darby Summer Stage began their season today with “The Wizard of Oz.” I am pleased that we are able to offer live and in-person performances this year, and I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible. If you would like to purchase tickets or see what other productions Summer Stage has coming up, please visit www.udpac.org. 

Next Friday, July 16th, is Park and Recreation Professionals Day. Tonight, I am pleased to issue a proclamation in honor of all the professionals, especially in Upper Darby, Delaware County, and Pennsylvania, who help make our parks and recreation activities possible. 

WHEREAS, parks and recreation professionals promote physical, emotional, and mental health and wellness through both organized and self-directed fitness, play, and activities; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation professionals support the economic vitality of communities by providing frontline jobs and promotion of community revitalization; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation professionals foster social cohesiveness and communities by celebrating diversity, providing spaces to gather together peacefully, modeling compassion, promoting social equity, connecting social networks, and ensuring all people have access to its benefits; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation professionals support human development and endless learning opportunities that foster social, intellectual, and emotional growth in people of all ages and abilities; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation professionals strengthen community identity by providing facilities and services that reflect and celebrate community character, heritage, culture, history, aesthetics, and landscape; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation professionals help sustain and steward our natural resources by protecting habitats and open space, connecting people to nature, and promoting the ecological function of park areas; and

WHEREAS, Upper Darby supports the skilled work of parks and recreation professionals, especially those who serve in our Township and throughout Delaware County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to strengthen community cohesion and resilience, to connect people with nature and each other, and to provide opportunities for healthful living and environmental sustainability; and 

WHEREAS, Upper Darby values the essential services that park and recreation professionals and volunteers perform to provide recreational and development enrichment for our children, youth, adults, and seniors, and to ensure that our parks and recreational facilities are clean, safe, and ready to use. We are also grateful for our partnership with the YMCA of Eastern Delaware County, which allowed us to offer recreational activities for children this summer. 

NOW, THEREFORE I, Barbarann Keffer, Mayor of Upper Darby Township, do hereby proclaim July 16, 2021 as Parks and Recreation Professionals Day in Upper Darby and encourage the entire community to recognize and participate in its observance.

Thank you and have a great evening.