The Newtown Creek Coalition is holding a free family event Sunday with the goal of increasing public awareness of the Newtown Common and its need for preservation.

The event, Common Occurrence, will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m., behind the Newtown Bicycle Shop at Greene and North State Streets in Newtown Borough. 

The Newtown Common, a tiny public park on the banks of the Newtown Creek at the end of Greene Street, is all that remains of the 40-acre common that was the centerpiece of William Penn's original plan for Newtown, according to the Newtown Creek Coalition.

The event will feature games, light refreshments and a group photo as part of the national "This Place Matters" campaign by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The photo will be uploaded to the This Place Matters webpage.

The event will feature “Common Knowledge” trivia and a kids game that will teach them about the fish that live in Newtown Creek. The group photo will take place at 2:30 p.m. 

Most of the Common was sold in the late 1700s and the proceeds were used to pay for public projects including building the Centre Avenue Bridge in 1796.  Recently, the creek bank has begun to erode and the rush of stormwater down Greene Street is accelerating the damage, according to the coalition.

The Newtown Creek Coalition is interested in improving the condition of this area, including bank restoration, better stormwater management and beautification.

The nonprofit Newtown Creek Coalition was established in 2006 with the goal of protecting and preserving the Newtown Creek.

In addition to annual creek clean-ups, the coalition provides technical assistance and in-kind services to municipalities and other organizations applying for grants to improve Newtown Creek.  Membership is free. For more information, visit www.newtowncreekcoalition.org or www.facebook.com/NewtownCreekCoalition.