Friends of the Wissahickon Press Releases and More
FOW Receives Grant from PECO for Park Signage (July 2010)
FOW Elects New Board Members (June 2010)
Trail Ambassadors Lead Summer Walks in the Wissahickon (June 2010)
FOW Volunteers Keeping Devil's Pool Clean this Summer (June 2010)
FOW Volunteers Re-route Trail near Golf Course (June 2010)
FOW 5% Day at Whole Foods Market in Plymouth Meeting (May 2010)
Lecture on Trees of the Wissahickon on May 26 (May 2010)
Wissahickon Friends Hike on May 12 (May 2010)
Stewardship Challenges in the Wissahickon on April 21 (April 2010)
Spring Bird Walks in the Wissahickon 2010 (April 2010)
Wissahickon Creek Clean Up on April 24, 2010 (April 2010)
Spring Walks in the Wissahickon with FOW Trail Ambassadors (March 2010)
City Parks Will be Safer with More Use, Not Less (December 2009)
Friends of the Wissahickon Awarded $780,000 from Merck (November 2009)
FOW Offers Free Presentations through Speakers Bureau (September 2009)
Rex Avenue Bridge Renovation
Philadelphia’s Department of Parks and Recreation and the Capital Projects Division of the Department of Public Property, have initiated the renovation of the Rex Avenue Bridge and immediate environs. The work involves improvements to the bridge abutment foundations, installation of a new under-drain system, bridge arch stucco renovations, vegetation removal, and re-pointing of the entire bridge. The scope also includes rock armoring of the creek embankments. The project will require the installation of a rock pile platform in the creek (Jersey Barriers upstream and under water) to support an excavator to access the upstream Roxborough side abutment during construction.
Sugarloaf at Chestnut Hill College
Many people have inquired as to FOW's positon on the Chestnut Hill College Master Plan and IDD proposal for the Sugarloaf parcel. FOW has been participating in a group of Chestnut Hill community representatives and College representatives. Click here to learn more about FOW's interest in this issue.
Trail Permits Required by Fairmount Park
All equestrians and bicyclists over the age of 16 are required to display a valid Fairmount Park trail user permit on the upper trails of Wissahickon Valley Park and Pennypack Valley Park. Permits are required when using bicycles, horses, carriages, horse-drawn vehicles, and other non-motorized, wheeled vehicles. To make it easier and more convenient for trail users to obtain their permit, as well as to help reduce paper waste and costs, you can now apply online for your permit by going to the Park website at www.fairmountpark.org. After the Park receives your application, they will process it and send you a tag. The tag is valid through March 31, 2011. You can also receive a permit application in the mail by calling 215-683-0201.
The cost for permit registration is $20.00 for non-residents. There is no charge for Philadelphia residents. However, as in the past, the Park asks for your help in maintaining and improving the trails through a tax-deductible contribution to Fairmount Park. A minimum donation of $20.00 is requested, however all donations will be accepted. Donations will be used for the continued maintenance of the trails and to support the trail management program. Trail users who do not possess a valid trail permit will be in noncompliance of the trail rules and regulations and are subject to a $25.00 fine. Don’t let this happen to you! It is easy to obtain a trail permit. Complete trail regulations, registration and additional information can be found at www.fairmountpark.org.
Wissahickon Blogs
In the summer of 2009 , Philadelphia high-school students from the BITS program (Building Information Technology Skills) at Temple University, with the support of the Friends of the Wissahickon, documented the multiple ways the Wissahickon section of Fairmount Park is used by people and wildlife. Sponsored by the Information Technology and Society Research Group (ITSRG) as part of Work Ready Philadelphia's Green Jobs Initiatives for Philadelphia Youth., the program utilizes federal stimulus funding to
establish economic opportunities for young people while developing a green economy. This six-week intensive program allowed the students to learn sophisticated information and communication technology skills and applications that will enhance their geographic knowledge and computer, social media, graphic arts, and research skills in a university environment. BITS students also used the data sets they created to develop social media
projects, such as blogs, Powerpoint presentations, podcasts, and slide shows, says Michele Masucci, Director of ITSRG. For the full story, see FOW’s 2009 fall newsletter. And check out the blogs listed here.
Wissahickon Bloggers
http://coexist09.blogspot.com/
http://mircalemakers.blogspot.com/
http://g2-workingattemple.blogspot.com/
http://stilldonotknow.blogspot.com/
Henry Avenue Bridge Refurbishment Project
PennDOT will be refurbishing the Henry Avenue Bridge over Lincoln Drive and the Wissahickon Creek. The work will be starting the week of March 23, 2009, and will continue to August of 2011. Users should not be inconvenienced as all trails are to be kept open during the project.
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