Valley Green Project on Schedule

A stream bank stabilization and parking lot improvement project Valley Green Inn is on schedule for completion on Sept. 30.  

During the projection the upper parking lot of Valley Green Inn will remain closed. 

According to Henry Stroud, Project Manager for the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW), contractors are continuing construction of a series of stepped infiltration pools that are designed to dissipate the energy of strong storm water flows. To date, four steps have been constructed, and the new stream bed has been armored with coarse rock between the steps.

Here's more on the project from a press release from the Friends of the Wissahickon:

"This two-phase project will improve water quality in Wissahickon Creek by helping to meet the EPA Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sedimentation, improve parking conditions, and restore native vegetation. Phase One (July 1 to September 30) involves stabilizing the streambank along the parking lot. Phase Two (dates to be determined) involves resurfacing the parking lot itself. Construction dates are determined by the permitting process and weather conditions.

The project will stabilize 350 feet of stream adjacent to the parking area by installing rock steps designed to dissipate high energy storm flows, resurfacing/restriping the parking lot, repairing broken wheel stops, and replacing invasive plant species with natives. This project is being done in partnership with PPR and PWD as part of the Wissahickon Stormwater Mitigation and Sediment Reduction Project, a collaborative effort to reduce erosion and the loss of forest habitat park-wide.      

Alternative Parking Available

Park users are urged to bike, walk, or use public transportation to the park, and use alternative parking lots in the Wissahickon (see park overview graphic). A more detailed map of the park, trails, and parking areas can be found on FOW's new Map of Wissahickon Valley Park (available at www.fow.org/about-park/maps). For the safety of all park users, Park Rangers will patrol the park during the length of the project and cars parking in non-designated parking areas in Wissahickon Valley Park will be ticketed because emergency vehicles must have access to the park."