Politics & Government

Whiz Kids - Teens Join Anti-Airport Fight

Three incoming Hatboro-Horsham High School seniors canvas their community distributing 4,000 fliers in hopes of drawing enough support to keep the runway closed at Willow Grove air base.

On a scorching 100-degree day recently, while their peers were likely lounging poolside, three Horsham teens sat, sans air-conditioning, stapling fliers and affixing tape before hitting the pavement to stick them to 4,000 Horsham mailboxes or doors. 

Feeling as though their civic duty was calling, incoming seniors Lizzy Carr, Bridget Brophy and Danny Watts gave flight to a mission their parents and neighbors piloted in keeping the runway at Willow Grove air base closed for good. 

It may have started as their parent's fight, but the teens say they definitely have a stake in the outcome. 

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"I feel like if it does happen, we're going to be the ones growing up here," said Carr, 18. "And I wouldn't want it."

The goal of the mass flier distribution, they said, was to draw as many people as possible to tonight's Horsham Land Reuse Authority meeting.

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Promising to be a pivotal night, the HLRA will decide which of the 17 base redevelopment proposals - including - warrant further investigation. The so-called notices of interest selected tonight could eventually end up in one of three redevelopment plans presented to the HLRA next month. Of those, the HLRA in November will adopt a final reuse plan.

Carr's father, Tom, one of those at the forefront of No Airport in Horsham, said he didn't have to encourage the teens to get involved.

"They wanted to do it," he said, adding that the girls came to the group's meetings and "listened and paid attention."

Watts, 18, said his father spoke to him about the airport proposal. And, in the end, he's looking out for his future interests.

"I'd like to live around here when I'm older," Watts said. "With an airport - who wants to live around that?"


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