Sustainable Trails Initiative
The Sustainable Trails Initiative (STI) is a multi-stage commitment by the Friends of the Wissahickon to help make the 50 miles of natural surface National Recreation Trails in the Wissahickon Valley Park an environmentally and socially sustainable system that works for everybody. Implementing STI will cost between five and ten million dollars and will take a minimum of five years. To see an overview of the project and learn how it will improve habitat, mitigate stormwater runoff, inrpove user experience and safety, and involve the local community, take a look at our Sustainable Trails Initiative Prospectus. Go to page 11 for a list of our partners.
STI Project Phases and Planning Documentation
Each Phase of the Sustainable trails Initiative has been conducted carefully, in close partnership with the Fairmount Park Commission as well as with over thirty stakeholder groups representing different user interests throughout the park.
2004-2005: Phase I (Assessment): COMPLETE
- Geologic assessments
- Stakeholder meetings
- Sustainability and proposed trail corridor mapping
- Deliverable reports from this phase include:
2005-2008: Phase II (Planning): COMPLETE as of June 2008
- Visitor management & wayfinding plans
- Public meetings (held in March 2007)
- Two (2) demonstration trail-building projects
- Deliverable maps and reports from Phase 2 include:
Map 1 Trail Sustainability Assessment: This map shows how trail corridors were assessed by the consultant team in 2004, and updated in 2006. (See 2004 Consultants’ Report for further information on the consultants’ work.)
Map 2 Proposed Wissahickon Trail Enhancements: This map shows the existing trails and proposed corridor of the core trails, as well as the proposed routes of most linear trails, but excluding most access trails and hike-only trails in the Andorra Natural Area, the Lavender Trail, and Carpenter's Woods.
Draft Visitor Management Plan: This draft plan for improving user experience (not in its final form) is available for public comment until June 30th 2008. This plan has not yet been approved by the Fairmount Park Commission, and its suggestions are at this stage are non-binding.
Draft Trail Enhancements Plan: This draft plan specifies trail modification techniques throughout the 50 mile trail system. This plan is available for public comment until June 30th 2008. This plan has not yet been approved by the Fairmount Park Commission, and its suggestions are at this stage are non-binding.
MAP 3 Trail Segment Prioritization: This map shows how the 50 miles of trail have been broken down into hundreds of discrete segments in the planning process, each segment with its own set of reccomendations. Dotted lines indicate reccomended trail closures; solid lines show reccomended trail maintenance, reroute, or new trail installations.
We would like to hear your thoughts on the trail improvements proposed by these maps and reports. Please send your email comments to office@fow.org, or mail them to the attention of the Executive Director at 8708 Germantown Avenue, Phialdelphia PA 19118.
2008-?: Phase III (Implementation): BEGINS July 2008
- Up to 15 stages of work, 5-10 years to complete
- Cost approx. $6.9 million for implementation, $3 million more for stewardship funding to maintain our improvements over the next century
- Hybrid construction will be used: the project will be completed using paid contractors, rented equipment, Fairmount Park Commission staff and resources, FOW staff, and many, many volunteers to do the trail building
- Implementation begins with the Early Implementation Trail, a one-mile length of the Orange trail between Bell's Mill Road and the Thomas Mill Road Covered Bridge on the Chestnut Hill side of the park. Work will include invasive plan removal, some re-routing of the trail where it goes through wet areas or floodplain, installation of some signage and wayfinding, and an innovative planting plan.
Volunteers Make a Difference
 In the two demonstration trail projects completed as part of the Planning Phase of the Sustainable Trails Initiative, FPC staff, FOW staff and members, the Trails Solutions Team, and volunteers took part in work showcasing a variety of sustainable, shared-use techniques for the Wissahickon trails. Demonstration project volunteers were trained by professionals to assist in building, restoring, and maintaining shared-use sustainable trails.
The work conducted during the first demonstration trail project is detailed here: Demo 1 Overview
Work conducted as part of the second demonstration trail project is detailed here: Demo 2 Overview
For information on upcoming volunteer workdays, and to learn how you can take part in our upcoming Early Implementation Trail work, go to Volunteer Projects.
Public Meetings
Public Meeting 2009
A public meeting was held on Monday, February 23 at the New Covenant Campus (7500 Germantown Avenue) to discuss work on the Sustainable Trails Initiative in Wissahickon Valley Park. FOW reviewed the 2008 trail work at Bell’s Mill Road and outlined the upcoming 2009 trail work on the hiking trails to and from Devil’s Pool. Fifteen concerned citizens attended.
Public Meeting 2008
FOW hosted a public meeting to discuss the Early implementation of the Sustainable Trails Initiative (STI) on June 18, 2008 at Chestnut Hill Library. The projec began in late June 2008 and continued through December.
Early Implementation entailed complete reconstruction, partial re-routing, and replanting of the lower trail on the East (Chestnut Hill) side of Wissahickon Creek between Bells Mills Road and Thomas Mill Road (the covered bridge). In conjunction with the work on the trail itself, and plant work along the trail corridor, prototypes of the new trail blazing, trail signage, and trail head kiosks were installed, a handicap accessible parking place created in the lot opposite the trail head, and an improved handicap accessible trail section from the Bells Mills Road to the Pavilion created.
Public Meetings 2007
The Friends of the Wissahickon hosted two public forums in March 2007 to learn what park users think about the Sustainable Trails Initiative. Maura McCarthy, Executive Director of FOW, welcomed participants and introduced speakers. Mark Focht, Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Commission (FPC), explained the history of trails planning work in Wissahickon Valley Park. Dave Dannenberg, Co-Chair of FOW’s Conservation Committee, described FOW’s work leading up to the present. And Jill Van Winkle of IMBA Trail Solutions, a non-profit firm with expertise in planning and building sustainable multi-use trails, used a power point demonstration to explain the nature of sustainable trails—how good design makes them safer and accommodates different park users while reducing erosion and maintenance requirements.
A lively crowd of more than 80 people expressed appreciation for the presentations and raised thoughtful questions and offered suggestions. Participants studied the large scale maps of the current trail system and the proposed realignments. Many signed up to join in demonstration trail building efforts scheduled for early August 2007.
Click here to view the Questions and Answers from the 2007 Public Forums.
Making a Great Trail System Even Better
Investing in the Wissahickon Valley Park trails is a community initiative, and FOW looks to the community for support through their financial supportand volunteer efforts.
For more information about how you can help with the Sustainable Trails Initiative, please contact the FOW office at 215-247-0417 or office@fow.org, make a donation, or become a member. To volunteer, contact Volunteer Coordinator Kevin Groves at 215-247-0417 or groves@fow.org.
Administrative downloads STI Public Mtg Feb 2009
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