The Friends of the Wissahickon in Montgomery County are inviting the public to participate in their long-range planning process with a questionnaire on their website.

Park users are being asked to take a few minutes to visit FOW's website and comment on any issue of importance to them regarding the Wissahickon Valley and FOW's stewardship of the park.

Public outreach efforts have traditionally played a large role in FOW's long-range planning. Many significant improvements to Wissahickon Valley Park have been accomplished by FOW in direct response to needs expressed by the public, including: the two compost toilets along Forbidden Drive; the popular Trail Ambassador program; improved safety measures in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Philadelphia Police Department.

"We want the public to be a part of our strategy process so FOW's work in and for the Wissahickon will clearly reflect the concerns and aspirations of the community," says FOW President John Rollins.

This questionnaire follows FOW's year-long park user survey, My Park Counts, that concluded in July 2012. My Park Counts was the most comprehensive park survey of the Wissahickon Valley ever undertaken and included, for the first time, state-of-the-art mechanical counters of park users as well as observational information and personal interviews.

In addition to the survey, FOW held a public meeting in December to solicit feedback from the public and report on the organization's work in the Wissahickon over the past and the projects it will pursue in 2013.

"Over the past few months, FOW has been evaluating the results of our park user survey and developing a strategic plan for the next five years," says Rollins. "The process helps us identify the goals we will pursue in the future and develop the projects necessary to achieve them."

To complete the questionnaire, visit the Friends of the Wissahickon website.

1/7/2013