Areas Of Wissahickon Park Closing For Stormwater Project

PHILADELPHIA – Thee areas of Wissahickon Valley Park will be closed as work for a Green Stormwater Infrastructure is conducted from mid March to June.

The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) said its Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) project will have impacts on Northwestern Avenue at the Upper Parking Lot, the Upper Parking Lot, and the Bike Bypass.

Below is information on the affected areas, courtesy of FOW:

Northwestern Avenue at the Upper Parking Lot

Work will be underway for a few days during the construction period on Northwestern Ave just above the parking lot entrance and will be closed to all vehicle traffic.

Upper Parking Lot

During construction, the Upper Parking lot above the WEC on Northwestern Avenue will be closed to vehicles since it will be the main staging area for the project and will be used for material stockpiles and equipment.

Bike Bypass

This trail will be closed during construction.

Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the GSI project takes a watershed-approach to mitigating damage from uncontrolled surface stormwater flows originating from Northwestern Avenue and the adjacent minimally vegetated parkland, FOW said.

A series of GSI features designed to intercept, treat, convey and infiltrate stormwater will greatly decrease sedimentation carried from this micro-watershed into the Wissahickon Creek, while greatly increasing the quality of the day-use area of the Wissahickon Environmental Center (WEC) and adjacent trails, according ot the group.

FOW consulted with the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation staff at the WEC, District 4, and Natural Lands Restoration staff to help ensure public safety and minimize impacts on park users during construction.

FOW asks visitors to the Andorra Natural Area during the construction period to please stay out of the work zone and heed safety signage at all times, even if the crew is not working.

Some areas will not see impacts from the GSI project, however.

The following park amenities at or near the work zone will not be impacted during construction:

Red Forest Loop and Connector Trail

This old rocky road bed that runs behind the WEC and along the edge of the day-use area will not be impacted during construction, except for a few specific days based on the construction schedule. From the WEC, this trail will provide the most direct route to Andorra Meadow.

Wissahickon Environment Center and Lower Parking Lot

WEC, the "Tree House," and public restrooms will be open during normal hours throughout the construction period. The access road from Forbidden Drive and associated parking lot will also be open during this time.

Images via Shutterstock, Friends of the Wissahickon