Safety and Security

Staying Safe in the Wissahickon

It's understandable that people wonder about the safety of the Wissahickon. Although many people use the Park-- hundreds walk, run, and bike every day-- it remains easy to find yourself alone. The 92nd District police actively patrol the busier parking lots but, otherwise, are seldom seen. The Wissahickon is in the fifth largest city in the U.S. and some people may come to the Park with less than honorable intentions. Stopping all crime, all the time in the Wissahickon is simply unrealistic. However, violent crime is very, very rare.

                                                                                                     Photo by A. Z. Hamburg                                                                                                                                   

Rules to Remain Safe

There are some things that every Park visitor can do to make the

Wissahickon safer for him or herself and everyone else.

1. When you park your car, lock your doors; carry your keys with you; and do not leave wallets, cell phones or other valuables in plain sight in your car. The major area of crime in the Wissahickon is in the parking lots.
2. Be alert! Don’t jog with headphones. It’s not only unsafe from the perspective of crime prevention, but you won’t hear bicyclists behind you or other potential problems. (You also won’t hear songbirds or the gurgling of the creek.)
3. Park users should exercise with a parnter whenever possible; if exercising alone, try to avoid using the park during off-peak times.
4. Vary your routine. If you always start your run at Valley Green at 6 a.m., try going to Bell’s Mill Road or Kitchen’s Lane once or twice a week.
5. Trust your instincts. There’s a sense of isolation from the city in the park that has a lot of appeal. If you sense trouble in a person or a place, leave.
6. Please report suspicious activity by calling 911.
7. Keep an eye on this website. FOW posts crime alerts as necessary.

The Wissahickon is a place of memory for generations of people in the region and beyond. By using a little common sense, you can make it a place where people continue to make great memories — not bad ones.

Important Numbers to Know

If your car is broken into, call 911; report where your car is – the number of the parking lot will help – and stay until the police come.

The Fairmount Park Rangers can be reached at 215-685-2172.

FOW Trail Ambassadors are often in the park. Their primary role is to provide information to park visitors about the Wissahickon and report any problems they see to Fairmount Park Rangers. Should you not be able to call 911 or the Rangers yourself, a Trail Ambassador can help.

See sewage in Wissahickon Creek? Call 215-685-6300

Preventing Lyme Disease

If you are a frequent visitor to the Park, you may be exposed to the tick carrying Lyme Disease, particularly during the months of May, June and July. Please see Lyme Disease for a list of preventive measures that can be taken to avoid infection.

Swimming

Swimming in any of Philadelphia’s rivers and streams is illegal and dangerous. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health states that swimming and wading is not permitted due to risks of drowning, injury from submerged objects, strong currents, and other hazards. In the past, swimmers at Devil’s Pool have drowned.

Swimming in Philadelphia creeks and rivers is also a serious health hazard. About 90% of the flow in the Wissahickon contains wastewater (treated sewage). People and animals risk bacterial and viral disease by swimming or wading in the Wissahickon Creek. Swallowing even a small amount of this water exposes a person to parasitic diseases like Giardiasis or Cryptosporidiosis, with symptoms of cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and fever

Fishing

State officials urge people to limit their consumption of fish from Pennsylvania waters. The Wissahickon Creek is not specifically cited, but the state warns that people should eat no more than one meal of fish from Pennsylvania waters per week, due to contamination from mercury or polychlorinated biphenyls. [see Philadelphia Inquirer, 6-17-06]

                                                                                        Photo by Carolyn Kirloch

When necessary, health advisories are issued for the Wissahickon Creek. When health advisories are in effect, people and pets should avoid contact with water in the creek and not swim, wade, boat, row, or fish. Updates are posted on www.phillyrivercast.org. People may also call the city Water Department at 215-685-6300.