The Friends of the Wissahickon celebrated the opening of the first bio-composting toilet in Fairmount Park this week with a Toilet Paper Ribbon Cutting followed by a toast with prune juice.

The toilet is located in the WPA structure on Forbidden Drive near the Kitchen’s Lane entrance to Wissahickon Valley Park.

Pictured in the photo are: (Front Row) Richard Berman (FOW); Max (cutting “ribbon”) and Jonah Fine (Chestnut Hill); Ethan Larrabee and Des O’Donovan (Mt. Airy); (Back Row) Ed Stainton (FOW); Chris Palmer (FPC); and Maura McCarthy (FOW Ex. Director).

“The composting toilet will serve as a proto-type for future composting toilets in the park,” says Chris Palmer, Director of Operations and Landscape Management for the Fairmount Park Commission. FOW’s Structures Crew worked with the Fairmount Park Historic Trust, Fairmount Park staff, and Bio-Sun Systems to renovate the historic structure and install the composting toilet.

The project was funded in part by a grant from REI, supplier of specialty outdoor gear and clothing.

6/13/2008