Kids Dig Up Grenade at Upper Roxborough Reservoir

The bomb squad from the Philadelphia Police Department swept the Upper Roxborough Reservoir Sunday afternoon after neighborhood children found a grenade while playing.

Amid the Philadelphia Water Department's stormwater basin project, neighborhood children dug up an old weapon. Although Philadelphia Police said Monday the inert grenade was deemed harmless, parents say fencing around the project is inadequate.

"My son came running down the street with a real grenade. Thankfully, one of neighbors got him to put it back and we called the police, but we are worried about what's up there," Evergreen Avenue resident Dawn Snyder said.

Four boys found the granade Sunday afternoon while playing near the construction site off Summit Avenue. Police spokesperson Officer Jillian Russell said the bomb squad arrived, found the grenade to be inactive and removed it.

Although the incident avoided any catastrophe, neighbors are worried what else is buried under there.

Joanne Dahme, spokesperson for the Philadelphia Water Department, discussed the project's fencing.

"There is silt fencing along our swale excavation work along Summit. But the landscape is not dangerous if kids decide to step over the silt fencing. The Rox. Reservoir Basins do have chain link fencing that pre-existed the work we are doing. There is also a construction chain link fence where the contractor is unloading the excavated fill from Eva Street."

Snyder said she will restrict her children from playing in construction zone but is fearful of other kids. She said the crews at the Philadelphia Water Department have been great, but thinks the 2-foot high fencing around the work only prevents a mudslide. It's too easy for children to ignore the warning signs and play on the equipment, which are like Tonka trucks to them, she said.

For adventurous kids, Renee Crabil—whose son also found the grenade—said the construction looks like a big playground.

"They think they are digging for dinosaur bones and seeing if they can discover anything. They're 10-year-old boys... Before, the kids would play in the lawn, but now that they are digging it up, we are concerned that we don't know what's under there and what they will find," Crabill said.

Crabil, like Snyder, appreciates the water department's project. Her previous complaint about the reservoir was about flooding, which the project intends to curtail. However, while work continues, she wants better safeguards.

"Higher fences are needed to keep the neighborhoods kids out of there," Crabil said.

"As parents, we need to tell our kids to quit playing up there. But anyone can get across over those fences. It's dangerous," Snyder said.

Dahm said she will convey the message to project managers and appareciates the neighbor's feedback.