Friendsof the Wissahickon

Contact:

Erin Mooney, Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW): 267-788-2196

Gina Craigo, Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA): 215-962-8726

Friends of the Wissahickon and Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association Plan April Creek Clean- Up

Volunteers needed in Philadelphia and Montgomery County on Saturday, April 25.

Philadelphia, PA–The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA) are once again joining forces to clean the Wissahickon Creek on Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

All volunteers are invited to join us after the clean-up for the “Talkin’ Trash” picnic at Fort Washington State Park at the Flourtown pavilion on Mill Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This spring marks the 45th anniversary of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association’s (WVWA) annual creek clean-up, which is sponsored by Merck and Co. It is the 6th year that Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) has joined forces with WVWA to clean the Wissahickon Creek.

The Friends of the Wissahickon will clean up a section of the creek in Chestnut Hill, at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive at 9 a.m. Please register at www.fow.org and indicate if you plan to attend the picnic. Contact volunteer coordinator, John Holback, with questions at 215-247-0417 x107 or at holback@fow.org.

In Montgomery County, volunteers of all ages will be pre-assigned sections of the Wissahickon Creek or a tributary, extending from Lansdale to Flourtown. Sign-up online:http://www.wvwa.org/creekcleanup/ or contact Madalyn Neff or madalyn@wvwa.org. Please indicate the name, size and age range of your group and whether you will join the picnic. You will be contacted regarding your clean up location assignment.

Registration is not required but is recommended in order to be notified in case of any changes due to weather.   The event will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain. Check FOW’s or WVWA’s website or Facebook page for updates.

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate. Volunteers will be assigned to clean sections of the area and will be given bags in which to collect trash.

About Our Sponsors

Sponsors of this event provide funding for WVWA’s stewardship efforts throughout the year. The presenting sponsor is Merck & Co. Volunteers from Merck’s West Point plant located at the headwaters of the Wissahickon Creek will help with the clean-up. Conservationist sponsors include Covanta, DOW Chemical Company, First Niagara Bank and MSS Movers Specialty Service. Both DOW and First Niagara Bank will also send employee volunteers to help with the clean-up. Additional sponsorship is provided by Aqua Pennsylvania, Ambler Savings Bank, Artman Lutheran Home, BBD, LLP, Caddick Construction, First Priority Bank, Manufacturer’s Golf & Country Club, North Penn Water Authority, The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rotary Club of Blue Bell and Russell Roofing.

Companies interested in sponsoring the creek clean up should contact Gina Craigo at WVWA.

Founded in 1924, Friends of the Wissahickon is a 1,600-member nonprofit organization and works in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to restore historical park structures, eliminate invasive plant species, monitor watershed management issues, and restore trails throughout the Wissahickon Park. Follow FOW on Facebook and Twitter. For more information or to become a member, visit www.fow.org.

Since 1957, WVWA has made a critical difference protecting the local environment in the 64- square miles of the Wissahickon Creek’s watershed, working with individuals, local municipalities, Montgomery County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. WVWA protects over 1,200 acres of natural open space in Montgomery County. For more information or to become a member please contact 215-646-8866, visit www.wvwa.org or follow WVWA on Facebook.