The Friends of the Wissahickon was presented with a check for $15,000 from Recreational Equipment, Inc. at FOW's Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night at Valley Green Inn at the beginning of December.

The check was for a grant REI awarded FOW earlier this year for the Sustainable Trails Initiative, a multi-year project to make the 50 miles of National Recreation Trails in Wissahickon Valley Park a physically and socially sustainable system that works for all park users.

This grant will fund work at Kitchen's Lane, where FOW will close two dangerous, rapidly eroding sections of trail totaling 800 feet. These closures will be replaced with 700 feet of new trails that are more sustainable and encourage proper use of the trail.

In addition, FOW will restore approximately 1.75 acres of habitat through native plantings and invasive plant removal and build a  natural stone staircase. The project will engage 450 volunteers in anticipated contribution of 1,500 hours of volunteer labor.

12/31/2012