A group of concerned South Philly residents are hoping to keep the holiday season safe and full of magic around the Miracle on South 13th Street.
The South Philly holiday tradition, which began in the 1990s, has become a premier attraction during the Christmas season on the 1600 block of S. 13th Street, with neighbors decorating their homes with extravagant lights and animations of beloved characters Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and even the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. In recent years, it has evolved to include Disney and video game characters, Philly sports mascots and so much more. The spectacle has drawn both local and national attention as one of the best places to view holiday lights.
But the large crowds of people and gridlocked traffic is a growing concern for a neighborhood that was rocked with a fire in October near 13th and McClellan that severely damaged a couple of row homes on the block. Thankfully no one died in the blaze because firefighters were able to arrive quickly and efficiently. Residents believe things could have been worse had it happened in December.
“The fire deeply affected our community,” said Beckett Woodworth of an an independent organization called the Friends of the Miracle on South 13th Street. “It prompted neighbors of the Miracle to ask an unsettling question, which is what if this happened during the busy holiday season? It motivated us to come together and prioritize safety, but also while preserving the magic of the Miracle.”
Woodworth and the Friends of Miracle on South 13th Street are advocating for improvements to make the Miracle safer, more accessible and more enjoyable. The group was able to advocate for three large electronic signs that will help relay information and direct motorists through the busy streets. So far, three electronic signs were installed at 13th Street at Passyunk Avenue, at Broad and Morris streets, and Passyunk and Broad.
“One of the biggest wins for us is increased signs for visibility,” Woodworth said. “It’s to make everyone aware and help with confusion for drivers and visitors and keep traffic flowing. Also to hopefully reduce honking.”
The group’s wishlist also includes temporary street closures during peak hours, dropoff zones for trollies and noise code enforcement after 9 p.m. Loud noises have become an issue, especially with party buses and trollies that have made the Miracle one of their main stops during city-wide tours.
“The party trollies have lots of people partying and drinking with loud music,” Woodworth said. “Some trollies have live music and they go until midnight. Noise code prohibits that after 9 p.m. on residential roads.”
Temporary street closures would help emergency vehicles get to their destinations while still giving access to residents. It’s something neighbors are hoping to see in the near future, ideally before the Miracle packs it in for another year in January.
“A lot of our neighbors are front-line workers and healthcare professionals,” Woodworth said. “They know how serious and how every second matters in emergencies. With heart attacks, strokes and other emergencies, every second counts. When that fire happened at 13th and McClellan, my wife and I witnessed the firetrucks arrive in eight minutes and two houses were nearly condemned. We can’t imagine what that would have been like if response times were 30 minutes or 45 minutes or an hour. Traffic goes from 13th and Tasker down to 13th and Oregon and all down the side streets of South Philly. It’s really scary.”
In the meantime, the Friends of the Miracle on South 13th Street are asking residents all over South Philly to be proactive and inspect smoke detectors, identify hazards and stay vigilant during the winter months. They are also encouraging residents to share concerns with neighbors and continue to advocate for better safety measures. And most of all, they want residents to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest capacity.
“We want to make sure this tradition is safe, joyful and welcoming for everyone in South Philly,” Woodworth said.
