Friends of Wissahickon Oppose Ropes Course

The Friends of the Wissahickon announced on Wednesday that they would would not support a proposal from the city to place a tree top adventure course in Wissahickon Park at the intersection of Henry and Wigard avenues.

“After lengthy deliberations, the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) has decided not to support a proposed TreeTop Adventure concession in the Wissahickon,” a statement released Wednesday said.  “This recommendation has been conveyed to the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, the final arbitrator on this proposal.”

The statement continues:

[This statement] follows up on a prior statement issued on February 2013 that listed a number of concerns.  Although PPR was responsive to most of these conditions, several of them remained unmet or only partially met.

This statement comes after Parks and Recreation Department Director of Property and Concessions Management Bob Allen hosted a town hall meeting at the Schuylkill Center in March that was attended by more than 250 community members.

At that meeting, Allen said that the ropes course would bring in from $10-50,000 in revenue to the city, and that the course would be used as an educational tool to get city youth involved with nature. 

Still, the majority of the people that attended the meeting were not in favor of the course being constructed.

Their main concerns were environmental impact and increased noise and congestion in the area.

Denise Cotter helped form a group of concerned citizens that oppose the ropes course named Alliance for the Protection of the Wissahickon.

“We’re really pleased with the statement,” Cotter said.  “It really helps our cause.”

The statement from the Friends of the Wissahickon says that opposing the ropes course fulfils its mission of being a good steward for the park:

As with many issues affecting the park, FOW has followed a process that involved careful research, varied community input and assessment of the project in light of FOW’s mission. In doing so, we trust we have upheld our mission as dedicated stewards of the Wissahickon.

To read more about the proposed ropes course please click on one of the following links:

• Treetop Adventure Course Considered for Wissahickon Park
• Tree Top Adventure Proposal to be Discussed
• Proposed Rope Course Concerns Residents
• Citizens Mount Campaign to 'Save the Wissahickon'