Cleanup planned for notorious Kensington drug haven

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Thursday, June 15, 2017
Cleanup planned for notorious Kensington drug haven
Cleanup planned for notorious Kensington drug haven. Sarah Bloomquist reports during Action News at Noon on June 15, 2017.

KENSINGTON (WPVI) -- A notorious area in Philadelphia's Kensington section that's become a haven for homeless heroin addicts is now slated for a cleanup.

The area is along a stretch of railroad tracks on property owned by Conrail.

An agreement between the city and Conrail also calls for the area to be secured.

Some 500,000 to 1 million syringes have been dumped there amid the ongoing heroin epidemic.

RELATED: Action News investigates open-air drug dens in Philadelphia

While making the announcement on Thursday, Mayor Jim Kenney said the effort is more than just about clearing the dangerous debris.

"While Conrail works to clean, secure and maintain its property, we are going to be focused on helping the individuals who frequent the area along those tracks to get into treatment and supportive housing," he said.

Cleanup work will begin as soon as possible and should be complete by the end of July.

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