Tinicum & Eastwick

“Triumph and tragedy, local and national politics, race relations, environmental concerns, and the struggle to save our heritage. I found myself pondering the eternal vigilance required for justice, the strengths and weaknesses of our democracy, and the way a small group of citizens can change the world. Don't be surprised if this book stays with you forever.” ~James Stoddard, author of Liberty Bell and the Last American

“Will Caverly’s Tinicum and Eastwick is a fascinating, compassionately researched account of environmental hazard, racial injustice, and community organizing. From redlining to bird migrations, Caverly addresses complex issues without losing sight of the people and places whose stories he tells. Tinicum and Eastwick offers lessons, warnings, and inspiration that are relevant far beyond Philadelphia.” ~Regina Munch, associate editor, Commonweal magazine

“Will Caverly’s Tinicum & Eastwick could be shelved in both history and current events. It documents the tale of an important early success in the private conservation movement and our organization. At the same time, it shines a light on the complex and often fraught intersection between land use and justice, a dynamic that is playing out still today at Tinicum and around the country.” ~Oliver Bass, President, Natural Lands

“Movements for wildlife conservation and environmental justice have historically worked—at best—in parallel, with well-resourced, white-led conservation organizations long ignoring how environmental impacts land on Black and Brown and low-income communities. In rich detail, Will Caverly captures how this played out in Eastwick, the site of the nation’s first urban wildlife refuge, the largest urban renewal project in history, and now Philadelphia’s most vulnerable floodplain community. Crucially, Caverly achieves this through reverence for the stories of all involved.” ~Amy Laura Cahn, climate and environmental justice lawyer and former counsel to Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition

“This is a gripping story of the dark side of progress and its impact on the lives of real Philadelphians who didn't have the political connections to stop powerful interests from taking away a sacred American ideal (ironically enshrined in Philadelphia): private property rights. Will Caverly has done a masterful job bringing the voices of the impacted residents to light, humanizing their experiences through heartfelt stories of family and community, while sending an important warning about the abuses of government and its ability to take away individual liberty in the name of the ‘greater good.’” ~Rich Zeoli, Philadelphia Talk Radio Host