Connecting to the Soul of our City

June 26, 2009

When I interviewed for a summer fellowship at the Economy League in late April, one thing I wanted to convey was my love for the Philadelphia region. As a lifelong resident, my family and I frequently made trips into the city. Whether it was a visit with my dad at work in Chestnut Hill, a trip with my brothers to see the Phillies, or a family outing to the historic districts, any time we crossed that city line I could feel the energy and vibrancy of a city that had a living soul that stretched back to the founding of our country. I grew up to become a history teacher in the Philadelphia region, so I suspect that my childhood interactions with the city and its rich history played a vital role in shaping what I ended up doing with my life.

At the same time that I was uncovering the many exciting neighborhoods in Philadelphia, I came to enjoy, perhaps more than anything else, the place where I felt most connected with the city--the Wissahickon Park. As an avid runner, I fell in love with the Forbidden Drive in the Wissahickon Park section of Fairmount Park. Fairmount Park is one of the largest urban park systems in the world with approximately 9,200 acres spread over 63 parks throughout the city, and the Wissahickon Park comprises 1,800 of those acres.

The notion that one of the most beautiful and pristine tracts of land in our area is preserved and reserved for all of us is a uniquely American idea (which is the idea behind the upcoming Ken Burns documentary on US National Parks). While in the Wissahickon, I feel connected to the soul of the city. It might be a stretch (or it might be the history teacher in me), but when our founders met in Independence Hall more than 200 years ago and spoke of "freedom," I believe I feel a bit of that in the still of the crisp morning air as the Wissahickon whispers gently as I move along the trail.

For me, the experience of the Wissahickon began with cross country practices in high school, continued through occasional practices there in college, and really developed after graduating when I began to bring the cross country team I now coach there everyday for practice. Through the years of running the trails along the Wissahickon Creek I came to realize that Philadelphia is home to the runners' crown jewel of training grounds--the Wissahickon is second to none in terms of places to run. Two years ago when I was ready to purchase my first home, I told my real estate agent that my number one criterion for any house was its proximity to the Wissahickon (I found out, to my surprise, that this is not a common request).

Recently the city approved the merger of the long-independent Fairmount Park Commission with the Department of Recreation. This move has certainly raised a few eyebrows as city residents worry about potential cuts to the stagnant and arguably inadequate park budget, or worse yet, the opening of land to development. During these difficult economic times, most residents understand that some hard decisions will need to be made. 

No one wants to see city swimming pools closed for the summer, or libraries shut their doors, but before any councilmember considers cutting funding to our parks or opening them to development, I would encourage them to join me for a 6 a.m. run along Forbidden Drive. Once they've experienced the power of having a green refuge right in the city, I have a feeling we won't have to worry about the opening of the parks to development for some time. But perhaps Council found that connection themselves; the bill that could have greatly loosened protections of the parks was withdrawn, and the City even made plans to expand the Schuykill River Trail. That is a great move in the right direction, one which the vast majority of city residents are in favor of.

So the next time you want to take a walk, get some fresh air, or find a new way to connect to the city, wander over to the Wissahickon, and I'll see you there.

--Greg Bielecki, Postgraduate Fellow