This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Friends of the Wissahickon Promotes Safety in the Park

The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) is encouraging park
users to take safety precautions this summer when visiting Wissahickon Valley Park. Park Rangers will patrol the park throughout the summer to increase safety and enforce park regulations regarding swimming, parking, littering, and walking dogs off-leash.  

Safety Guidelines

--Park users should exercise with a partner whenever possible; if exercising alone, try to avoid using the park during off-peak times.

Find out what's happening in Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

--Be alert! Go headphone free! It is not only unsafe from the perspective of crime prevention, but you won’t hear bicyclists behind you or other potential problems.

--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.

Find out what's happening in Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

--Trust your instincts. There is 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.

--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.

--Please report suspicious activity by calling 911.

--Visit www.fow.org frequently. FOW posts crime alerts as necessary.

Important Numbers to Know

--If your car is broken into, call 911. Report the location of your car (the number of the parking lot will help). Stay until the police arrive.  

--The Fairmount Park Rangers can be reached at 215-685-0144.

--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. If you are unable to call 911 or the Rangers yourself, a Trail Ambassador can help.

About Friends of the Wissahickon

The Friends of the Wissahickon, founded in 1924, is a
non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Wissahickon Valley. FOW works in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to restore historical structures throughout the park, eliminate invasive plant
species, monitor watershed management issues, and restore trails throughout the Wissahickon Valley Park
with its Sustainable Trails Initiative. Follow FOW on Facebook and Twitter. For more information or to become a member, visit www.fow.org.

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airy