Support Your Favorite Public Land this Saturday
National Public Lands Day on September 30 presents a great opportunity for people who love the Wissahickon to come out and support one of their favorite public lands.
Wissahickon Valley Park was set aside as a public land in 1868 for the health and benefit of the citizens of Philadelphia. It was intended to protect a source of drinking water for many, while also providing a place of recreation and respite. It also provides habitat for wildlife, particularly migrating birds, as it is an important stop for them on the Atlantic Flyway and was designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon PA. Finally, the Wissahickon is a public land that unifies citizens from multiple neighborhoods, including Chestnut Hill, Germantown, East Falls, Mt. Airy, and Roxborough.
This year FOW will be working on a new trail segment off Summit Avenue that will serve a true, multi-use function. It will provide a trail for equestrians, bikers, and hikers.
This new trail link will be replacing a very dangerous stretch of road, allowing people to get through this area without having to walk on a public roadway. So this is an FOW project that is important from a public safety perspective. Its design has been developed with great environmental sensitivity, as is all of FOW’s trail work.
National Public Lands Day is a wonderful opportunity to come out and take part in building a trail asset all park users will enjoy for years to come. Learn how you can join us on Saturday, September 30, here.
by Maura McCarthy, Executive Director