What began as a disturbing discovery near Adams Avenue has quickly escalated into one of the largest illegal tire dumps in Philadelphia history. More than 4,000 discarded tires have transformed a section of Tacony Creek Park into a sprawling environmental hazard, drawing outrage from residents and forcing the city into urgent action.
The sheer scale of the dumping stunned even those familiar with the area’s long battle against illegal waste. The tires layered deep and sprawling down a wooded ravine near Newtown Avenue, stretching over 100 feet toward the creek below. Local walkers and park-goers—accustomed to spotting trash—have described this site as on an entirely different level.
City officials first learned of the dump shortly after Thanksgiving. Since then, sanitation crews have cleared a portion of the tires, but the bulk of the load remains entrenched, made even more difficult to remove by a winter that sealed many in ice. Officials now believe those responsible cut a SEPTA gate lock and replaced it with their own to enable repeated access, likely bringing in tires over days or weeks without detection.
Investigators suspect a rogue tire hauling operation may be behind the mess, dodging recycling fees by using secluded parkland as a private landfill. But tracing the origins of unmarked tires is notoriously difficult. With Tacony Creek Park spanning over 300 acres through multiple city neighborhoods, enforcement remains a logistical nightmare.
Tacony Creek has long been a hot spot for illegal dumping, but this latest incident stands out.
According to city officials and nonprofit leaders, no one in recent memory recalls a larger tire dump within the Philadelphia park system. The site sits alarmingly close to the creek, posing risks to water quality and wildlife. The surrounding park is home to more than 100 bird species and animal species, forming a key piece of the region’s Circuit Trails network.
The city’s response is now shifting into high gear. On Saturday, April 5, during the annual Philly Spring Cleanup, more than 100 volunteers will form a human chain to haul out what’s left of the massive pile—one tire at a time. City agencies, including Parks and Recreation, the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, the Water Department, and SEPTA, are all coordinating the cleanup. Streets will be closed, sleds will be deployed, and contracted haulers will manage disposal.
Philadelphia removes roughly 250,000 illegally dumped tires each year. Despite stepped-up enforcement, including over $3.5 million in judgments against violators and 300 surveillance cameras in place (with 100 more on the way), illegal dumping continues to drain city resources. Officials say most of the city’s $48 million annual cleanup budget goes toward removal, not prevention.
Councilmember Anthony Phillips, whose district includes the affected area, called out the chronic dumping in neighborhoods like Lawncrest and Crescentville, insisting it’s time for a more aggressive approach. With pressure building from residents and city officials, the city is stepping up its efforts to stop illegal dumping—adding night vision cameras, handing out fines, and working more closely with police to catch offenders.
Still, the cleanup effort at Tacony Creek Park will depend heavily on public support. Groups like United by Blue and the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership are rallying volunteers and raising awareness. Their goal is to remove debris and reclaim a vital community space from years of environmental abuse.
