Chestnut Hill Business Association stages Dr Seuss event to boost traffic

With the change of season this weekend in Chestnut Hill, came the spirit of a popular children’s book. Germantown Avenue came alive with the spirit of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, a character that is putting attention on the environment.

Parents and children who took part in The Trail of the Lorax event, presented by the Chestnut Hill Business Association (CHBA), received a map and a special treat at the more than 10 stops on the trail down the avenue.

One of these stops was O’Doodles Toys, where kids could say hello to the cat of Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat. Workers from the store said they enjoy participating in these events.

“To see the kid’s faces light up when they see [The Cat In the Hat] and then they get a little gift or they have some fun- that’s the best part about it all,” O’Doodles worker Mike Breaux said.

The Philadelphia Zoo was a major sponsor of the event. The zoo is currently hosting a three-dimensional, interactive exhibit by the same name.

A Zoo on Wheels table was set up at the Carol Schwartz Gallery and a Philadelphia Zoo Adoption Table was located outside the Chestnut Hill Hotel. Anyone who completed The Trail of the Lorax could enter to win a free Friends of the Philadelphia Zoo membership. The zoo participated in this event because it ties in with its current theme.

“We are here because it’s the year of the Orangutan at the Philadelphia Zoo and we are promoting Dr. Seuess’ The Lorax. It’s really important to get the message across that Orangutans are endangered,” said Philadelphia Zoo worker Nancy Schuler. “They are loosing their habitats to palm oil trees. We are asking the public to use sustainable palm oil.”

The business association’s next event is the Fall for the Arts Festival on Sunday, Oct. 7.

Megan McNerney and Angelo Fichera are Temple University students. This piece was produced for Philadelphia Neighborhoods in collaboration with WHYY/NewsWorks.