Valley Green Environmental

Restoration Program

Valley Green is the centerpiece of the Wissahickon. The FOW has been deeply involved with the Inn since 1934. Today, the FOW recognizes that the centerpiece has faded a bit. Floods have damaged the landscape. Changes in the creek’s nature threaten the wall along the creek. The Inn, with its growing special events business, needs more parking and a more beautiful setting. The Friends of the Wissahickon is committed to making Valley Green as beautiful as it can be.

Q: What will the plan accomplish?

A: The program, when fully implemented, will make the Valley Green Inn and its immediate area more accessible, secure and beautiful. New lighting with a more traditional look will make it safer at night and improve the appearance. Rain gardens will improve the drainage. More parking spaces and valet parking for special events will help the Inn’s business. Genuine gates and guardrails, instead of the current sawhorses, will stop people from using Valley Green as a short cut between Chestnut Hill and Roxborough.

Q: Will the results survive the type of storms that have hit the Wissahickon in recent years?

A: Even the best of landscapes can’t survive a hurricane unscathed. However, the plan is designed to be as sustainable as possible. Throughout the Wissahickon, wherever we’ve used sustainable landscaping on trails and elsewhere, the damage from storms has been kept to a minimum. We believe that this will hold true for landscape architects Andropogon Associates’ plans for Valley Green, developed with FOW and FPC participation over the last few years.

Q: How will drainage be improved?

A: By using and improving existing stone gutters and planting rain gardens, there will no longer be the gullies that currently plague the parking area — from even the smallest rain event. Water will flow more slowly and get a chance to soak into the ground.

Q: What sort of plantings do you have planned?

A: FOW is committed to planting two flowering dogwoods in honor of longtime FOW officers Koey and Ann Rivinus. Aside from that, the plantings will be up to our contractor in keeping with sustainable landscaping principles.

Q: How much will all this cost and who will pay for it?

A: Current estimates range from $350,000 for a bare-bones version to more than $600,000 covering contingencies and inflation. We can keep some costs down by using volunteers wherever possible. The Friends are committed to raising as much money as it takes from as many sources as we can find. We welcome support from anyone and everyone.

For more information, contact FOW at 215-247-0417 or office@fow.org.