Draft:Isle of Jean

History
Located off the east bank of the Schuylkill River just behind Lloyd Hall Recreation Center at 1 Boathouse Row in Philadelphia, the Isle of Jean is an attractive natural space. The forested islet measures just over two acres and is home to a variety of local fauna including beaver, turtles, and waterfowl. Bald eagles have also been spotted there.

Since 2018 the island has been connected to the Schuylkill Banks Trail by a sturdy pedestrian bridge that leads to a short boardwalk loop. Litter from pedestrians on the boardwalk coupled with the flotsam from the river that gets deposited on the island after heavy rains creates a severe trash problem in the area.

To combat the problem, in the spring of 2020 a local resident by the name of Jean organized the first volunteer cleanup of the area. She posted flyers on the boardwalk urging park visitors to “show up to pick up,” and some did. The same volunteers also began to refer to the place formerly known as “the island behind Lloyd Boathouse” as “the Isle of Jean,” and the new name stuck.

Volunteer cleanups on the Isle of Jean are now biannual events that are open to all.