Upper Darby Township Juneteenth Celebration 

When: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2PM-7PM 

Where: 69th Street Recreation Area, 521 S. 69th Street, Upper Darby, Pa 19082 

Upper Darby Township is making history! ✨ Join us for our first official Juneteenth Celebration. A vibrant, family-friendly festival honoring freedom, heritage, and culture. 

Enjoy a lively vendor marketplace, interactive workshops, delicious food, and the Nu Millennium Main Stage featuring the legacy of the Black experience in America through music. 🎶 

Step back in time with guided trolley tours of the Underground Railroad, with live interpreters portraying Harriet Tubman and Thomas Garrett. 

Bring the whole family and be part of something meaningful. ❤️🖤💚 #Juneteenth #UpperDarby #CelebrateFreedom 

Juneteenth Vendor Application: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/GJURJtphwq?origin=lprLink 

Upper Darby Township Statement on Fire Company Number 1

Upper Darby, Pa- Upper Darby Township is aware of the recent statement issued by Fire Company No. 1 regarding the proposed sale of its building. While we respect the long and proud history of volunteer service in our community, it is important to clarify several inaccuracies and provide residents with the full context. 

The Township would like to assure residents that we will take all measures necessary to ensure continued fire protection out of this firehouse and that these events in no way represent a threat or compromise to public safety. There will continue to be staffed fire apparatus operating out of 7241 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, Pa, protecting the community 24/7.  

Due to a sustained decline in volunteer participation over many years, the Township made the necessary decision to implement 24/7 career firefighter staffing to ensure reliable emergency response. This action was not taken lightly, but it was essential to maintain consistent and responsible fire protection services for our community. 

The Upper Darby Township Fire Department remains a combination fire department where volunteers will supplement career staffing when available. We value volunteer firefighters and encourage their participation. However, volunteer participation at Station 37 has been minimal over a sustained period. In fact, Station 37 has only seven operational volunteer members on its roster. Of those members, in 2025 only one volunteer from Station 37 met the department's minimum participation for "active status" - which is responding to 10% of station calls. 

Contrary to recent claims, the Township has not eliminated financial support for the volunteer fire companies. For many years, Upper Darby has provided stipends to each of the five volunteer-owned fire companies to support their operations. That support continues. What has changed is a reasonable effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer funds. 

The Township has not imposed a burdensome reimbursement-only model. Instead, we have offered flexible options, including direct payment of invoices for legitimate operational expenses, as well as reimbursement where appropriate. This approach is designed to protect public funds while continuing to support volunteer organizations. Unfortunately, to date, the Township has received extremely limited engagement from some volunteer companies regarding these processes. 

Upper Darby Township remains fully supportive of its volunteer fire associations and values their historic contributions. However, that support must be balanced with responsible fiscal oversight and modern public safety standards. 

We remain open and willing to work collaboratively with all volunteer companies to establish clear, organized, and sustainable financial processes moving forward—whether through reimbursement or direct payment systems. 

Our priority is, and will continue to be, delivering safe, reliable emergency services to the residents of Upper Darby while honoring the legacy of those who have served. 

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Upper Darby Township Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones & UDFD Fire Chief Nick Martin held a Press Conference with the media on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The following is the press conference in its entirety. 

Bonner-Prendie's Kevin McGonigle Set to Make MLB Debut 

The Detroit Tigers X/Twitter account summed it up in two words; “it’s time.”  

The tweet was in reference to 21-year-old uber-prospect, Kevin McGonigle making the opening day roster.  

No, he’s not a Phillie but McGonigle is a Class of 2023, Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast graduate.  

The Aldan, Pa native is ranked as the number two prospect in all baseball. He was selected 37th overall by the Tigers in the 2023 MLB Draft. He played UDHL and in Drexel Hill Little League Little League as a youngster.  

McGonigle hit .474 with 4 home runs, and 16 rbi’s in 21 games and was named the Catholic League MVP and Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Bonner-Prendie.  

Despite never playing above Double-A ball, the Tigers organization saw enough from him in spring training action where he hit .250 with 2 home runs, 6 rbi’s and 11 walks, to believe he was ready for the Major Leagues.  

Tigers Manager AJ Hinch has announced that McGonigle will start Detroit’s season opener in San Diego. McGonigle has played both shortstop and third base this spring. Hinch was non-committal as to which position he would start at on Thursday.   

Regardless of position and what state he is playing in, Kevin McGonigle will have plenty of folks in Delco, Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, and at Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast cheering hard for the Tigers this season.  

Detroit Tigers X Account

Upper Darby Fire Department Hires First Assistant Fire Chief 

Robert Callahan, a 45-year veteran of fire service, was appointed as the first ever Assistant Fire Chief of the Upper Darby Fire Department.  

Upper Darby Mayor Ed Brown did the swearing in for Callahan who returns home to Upper Darby Township. He spent his previous 33 years serving the District of Columbia in various roles including Deputy Fire Chief.  

Chief Callahan was born in Southwest Philadelphia and grew up in Upper Darby Township. He is a Monsignor Bonner graduate and began his career as a junior firefighter with the Springfield Fire Department and later served with the Garrettford-Drexel Hill Fire Company. 

Assistant Chief Callahan’s appointment further bolsters Upper Darby’s Fire Department with another experienced veteran with experience in leadership, fireground command, operations, and administrative projects. 

UDFD Fire Chief Martin, Mayor Brown, Asst Fire Chief Callahan, CAO Jones

Upper Darby Representatives Host Black History Month Panel Discussion 

Upper Darby, Pa- Wednesday, February 11th, an esteem panel of dignitaries took part in a panel discussion on Black History Month.  

Upper Darby Mayor Ed Brown, Pennsylvania State Representative, Gina Curry, and Upper Darby Police Lieutenant, Laina Stevens gathered at the Watkins Senior Center in front of a packed house.  

The event was hosted by Raya Fagg, Program Supervisor for the Upper Darby Senior Center.  

The discussion centered around Black History Month, achievements of African Americans, influences, how African American history is American history, and how the media impacts the way we view our world.  

The panelists shared their background and what impacted and motivated them to pursue their career courses. There was also a question-and-answer session with the attendees.  

Mayor Brown is Upper Darby Township’s first African American mayor. Stevens in Upper Darby Police Department’s first female African American Lieutenant. State Rep Curry has served as the 164th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2021.