East Camden
Vibrant & Family-Friendly
SJCS is proud to call the neighborhoods of East Camden its home and works with community partners to preserve and enhance the physical, cultural and social fabrics of East Camden.
East Camden Neighborhood Info
East Camden is a culturally diverse neighborhood in the eastern portion of Camden comprised of the neighborhoods of Marlton, Dudley, Stockton and Rosedale. East Camden is predominately residential, relatively stable, and contains one of the most vibrant commercial corridors in the City of Camden. With easy access to Route 130 it is easy to commute and access other major highways such as I-95, I-295, and 676 into Philadelphia. The RiverLine also has a stop adjacent to East Camden that provides various stops between Camden and Trenton conveniently located on 36th Street.
Within East Camden there are eight schools ranging from elementary school through high school. There is a mix of private and public schools. Within East Camden there are two new elementary schools: Octavius V. Catto Elementary School and Thomas H. Dudley Family School. East Camden is also home to a Boys and Girls Club that was constructed and opened in 2007, it offers a variety of after school and summer programs for children.
Federal Street in East Camden features a variety of ethnic food restaurants and small shops offering furniture, clothing, jewelry, and much more. It is one of the few places in South Jersey where a patron can eat authentic Vietnamese, Caribbean, Mexican, Jamaican, Chinese and American cuisine on the same city street.
East Camden has four large parks and recreational area: Stockton Park, Ralph Williams Park, Alberta Woods Park and the Dudley Grange Park. These parks offer a variety of athletic courts, fields, playgrounds, and the only skate park in Camden City.
Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society and partners updated the 2013 My East Camden Neighborhood Plan. This plan is a 10 year vision for the future of neighborhood and focuses in on housing, economic development, sustainability/resiliency, parks and open space, small business growth and services needed to move East Camden forward.
What is a neighborhood plan and why is it important?
A neighborhood plan is a document that gathers insights and ideas from local stakeholders, like residents, workers, and students, to set out clear goals for how the neighborhood should improve. Neighborhood Plans usually include research on the current conditions of the neighborhood, answering questions like: who lives here? Where do these neighbors work? How many homes are here and how affordable are they? And what transportation do people use? The East Camden neighborhood plan will look at the topics of neighborhood population, jobs, housing, transportation, environment and climate change, among others.
While Regional Plan Association can help gather some data on these issues, no one knows the neighborhood better than the folks who have lived and worked here. That’s why we want to talk to you all to learn more about the neighborhood, identify the issues that you all care about most, and work together to think of solutions that can help East Camden grow in the way you want to see.
On the logistical side, organizations like St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society can take this plan, this vision of what you all want to see happen in your neighborhood, and get funding for specific projects that can make this plan a reality. And working with City of Camden and other entities, we could use this plan as a foundation to try to obtain funds for implementation of some of these ideas.
Five Overarching Goals of My East Camden
- Increase Accessibility and Improve Physical Conditions
- Center Residents and Local Businesses in Economic Development Initiatives
- Improve Sustainability and Environmental Resiliency
- Support Arts, Culture, Community, and Health
- Enhance Communication and Collaboration
Join the East Camden Advisory Group!
SJCS and partners convene an advisory committee every last Thursday of every month at 12 pm to discuss East Camden issues. This committee works with partners and other stakeholders to improve East Camden. This group is responsible for recommendations to building upon the existing assets in East Camden and the values of the residents to build a healthier future. Please sign up below.
myHome
Homeowners in East Camden often have difficulties securing rehab loans to upgrade their houses, which can result in uncomfortable and even hazardous living conditions for their families. myHOME is a SJCS rehab program that offers up to $5,000 in grants to assist homeowners with health and safety renovations to their homes, such as new heaters to keep warm, new roofs to replace ones that have been damaged, new windows to lower energy costs, and other renovations to keep residents safe in their homes.
myHOME is helping SJCS achieve two results. The first is to stabilize clients’ largest assets, their homes, and ensure that this portion of their investment portfolio (perhaps their only asset) is on solid ground. The second is to continue to stabilize the neighborhood. In achieving these two goals at once, East Camden will continue on its path to being a neighborhood of choice.
To learn more about “myHome” and to see if your home qualifies for a $5,000 grant for home repairs, please contact Nayda Rivera at nrivera@sjcscamden.org or call 856-966-8117, ext. 225.
East Camden Events Calendar
December 1, 2022