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Taking
a stroll along scenic Stenton Avenue
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Executive Summary
The Morris Arboretum
of the University of Pennsylvania received a $150,000 grant
from The William Penn Foundation to coordinate and support
a feasibility study for, and the creation of, a master plan
for a multi-use path and riparian restoration within the corridor
of the Wissahickon Creek between Fairmount Park in Philadelphia
County and Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County.
The feasibility study was completed in May of 1998.
The publication of this Master Plan in September 1998 concluded
the scope of work as directed by The William Penn Foundation
grant.
The Wissahickon Riparian
Restoration and Trail Link Master Plan is a set of conceptual
and specific recommendations for the design and installation
of a riparian restoration and trail link system. A brief
summary of these recommendations follows.
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Wissahickon Trail System
Recommendations
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Separate different types of
user groups to meet different needs and expectations and
avoid conflicts.
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Designate County and State
Park lands adjacent to the Wissahickon Creek within the
project corridor as an area for habitat conservation and
enhancement. Limit trail use within this corridor
to pedestrians only. Locate trails within this area
to reduce the impact of their use on wildlife habitat.
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Design the trail system for
the safety and security of users and neighbors.
Provide access for maintenance and security vehicles.
This report incorporates recommendations for bridges,
road crossings, signage, parking, and call boxes.
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Provide amenities that enhance
the user’s experience. Trail users should have ready
access to parking, restroom facilities, educational and
orientation programming.
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Establish a permanent Trail
Advisory Council that will oversee design, maintenance
and management of the trail system. An effective
council will include representatives from the local community,
parks departments, county and municipal agencies, landowners
and other organizations with a vested interest in the
trail system.
For a summary of trail alignments,
readers are directed to the Wissahickon
Trail System Map (for .PDF version, click here). For a detailed description of
the elements of the Wissahickon Trail System follow the link to
the Master Plan below.
Riparian Restoration Program
Recommendations
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Designate County and State
Park lands adjacent to the Wissahickon Creek within the
project corridor as Riparian Park. Focus restoration
and interpretive programming in this area on habitat conservation
and enhancement.
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Identify a coordinating agency
to seek funding for restoration efforts and organize a
consulting group of technical advisors, the Restoration
Advisory Team.
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Charge the Restoration Advisory
Team with a specific series of strategic tasks to be completed
within an eighteen month time frame.
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Frame all restoration activities
and programs within a watershed context. Acknowledge
that each area of the watershed is dependent on the actions
and activities that occur upstream.
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Engage citizens of the local
watershed community in planning and execution of restoration
activities.
- Develop partnerships with
local schools so that school programming is incorporated
in restoration activities.
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The Wissahickon
Creek viewed from the Bell's Mill Road bridge. (photo
credit: Brice Dorwart)
View the full version
of the Trail
Link Master Plan (*.PDF format)
This document
can take up to 15 minutes to open or download.
Please note that you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this
*.PDF file. To obtain and use the free
Adobe Acrobat Reader:
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Download the
Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (connection
may be slow at times).
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Install the Acrobat Reader
on your computer.
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Configure your web browser
to use the Acrobat Reader. After you are configured,
you should be able to click on a link to a .PDF file,
download it, and open the Reader.
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