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Spanning 2,000 acres with more than 50 miles of trails, Wissahickon Valley Park in northwest Philadelphia offers a variety of recreational opportunities, from hiking and biking to bird watching and picnicking.
We are a professor of history who co-authored a book on the Wissahickon Valley and an assistant professor of biology. We teach students at Chestnut Hill College, which sits directly across the street from this lush urban park, about the environmental history of the Wissahickon forest and the importance of preserving its biodiversity. We’re also developing a documentary on the Wissahickon funded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
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We want our students – and all Philadelphians – to understand the importance of protecting this urban ecosystem as a way to build climate resilience.
Like many of the country’s other great urban parks – from Central Park in New York or Rock Creek Park in Washington to the smaller Phalen Park in St. Paul, Minnesota – the Wissahickon lowers the city’s temperatures, reduces its carbon footprint, protects the water supply and mitigates floods. And, it remains an active arena for community building and engagement, which further increases Philadelphia’s resilience to climate change.
