Valley Green (My Heart Is Breaking)

**Juntonian** · 08-03-2012, 01:06 PM

The forest understory in the immediate vicinity of Devil's Pool is horrifically degraded. From Forbidden Drive on the opposite bank of the creek, one can see how the soils have become almost completely denuded and compacted as a result of the picnickers' tendency to crash and stomp their way around instead of remaining on the established trails. To those who are not long-time users of the park, it wouldn't be immediately apparent where the actual trails are (or were). Whenever it rains, these soils are carried off into the creek. In my opinion, this is the most devastated area in the entire Wissahickon gorge. There is no infrastructure to accommodate the hundreds of people that can congregate here on hot summer weekends, which is a problem because the people cannot be blamed for wanting to visit this unique and inviting spot. They can, however, be blamed for their conduct whilst there, which often is indefensible and ought to be punished. A plan that recognizes the innate attraction so many have for this spot must be enacted so that the impact of visitors on its environment can be mitigated and managed in a way that promotes forest regeneration and soil retention. More immediately, I think the strict enforcement of swimming prohibitions would go a long way towards reducing the crowds -- primarily composed of daredevils and buffoons showing off by leaping off the high rocks into the waters below.

**jen** · 08-08-2012, 03:36 PM

invite the ppa to ticket the holy heck out of the illegally parked cars, like the ones on livezey lane mentioned in the article.

**Malloy** · 08-08-2012, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by jen

invite the ppa to ticket the holy heck out of the illegally parked cars, like the ones on livezey lane mentioned in the article.

Great idea!

**PhillyTex** · 08-08-2012, 04:33 PM

Would making the Wissahickon park access roads into tow-away zones be going too far?

**BarryG** · 08-08-2012, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Juntonian

The forest understory in the immediate vicinity of Devil's Pool is horrifically degraded. From Forbidden Drive on the opposite bank of the creek, one can see how the soils have become almost completely denuded and compacted as a result of the picnickers' tendency to crash and stomp their way around instead of remaining on the established trails. To those who are not long-time users of the park, it wouldn't be immediately apparent where the actual trails are (or were).

Yep I only visit Valley Green a few times a year; last time I went, we lost the trail at Devil's Pool and got totally turned around and lost.

**ruggerkev** · 08-23-2012, 08:37 PM

Just got back from a run along the creek and its EXTRA stinky lately. Not sure if its the low water levels or what but it stinks

**thoth** · 08-23-2012, 08:56 PM

I don't know why everyone zeros in on Puerto Ricans (maybe because they are more conspicuous for coming as a family unit or because you don't see a lot of PR outside of eastern North Phila) but every time I've gone there have been plenty of white and black kids from Philly stinking up the joint. I've watched people from all different ethnicities acting like pigs. In that photo upthread half the people in foreground are white!

It's actually a pretty incredible spot to encounter out of nowhere, like 200 people having a party in the middle of an urban park system, but yeah it's gotten out of control and the littering (which was always present) has only multiplied.

**darthsinatra** · 08-23-2012, 09:05 PM

Last summer I saw a large group of hipsters just standing in Devil's Pool up to their tattooed asses in jorts drinking High Life cans and dropping the empties into the water. This behavior is not exclusive to any group.

**5n4k3** · 08-23-2012, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

I don't know why everyone zeros in on Puerto Ricans (maybe because they are more conspicuous for coming as a family unit or because you don't see a lot of PR outside of eastern North Phila) but every time I've gone there have been plenty of white and black kids from Philly stinking up the joint. I've watched people from all different ethnicities acting like pigs. In that photo upthread half the people in foreground are white!

It's actually a pretty incredible spot to encounter out of nowhere, like 200 people having a party in the middle of an urban park system, but yeah it's gotten out of control and the littering (which was always present) has only multiplied.

Click on the picture and view it full size, the crowd that day was almost entirely hispanic of varying skin tones. Hipsters have been making their way out there more and more, as well as local kids from Roxborough & Andorra. But every time I've been there, which has been dozens of times, the crowd is mostly Puerto Rican.

Like you, I've witnessed each of those ethnicities starting fires and leave trash all over, but Puerto Ricans tend to get singled out mostly because they're the largest ethnic group there, and they tend to come together as large family units. The other groups tend to be teenagers and young adults whom you expect to be irresponsible, while the worst offenders bringing gas grills and fold out tables and leaving mountains of trash behind are families with parental figures you expect to be responsible.

People cleaning up after themselves, regardless of ethnicity, seems to be the exception to the rule back there anymore.

**PhilaCap** · 08-24-2012, 08:23 AM

In my experience, the worst people in Wiss. Valley Park are the ignorant white people who let there dogs roam unleashed.

**sometimesilie** · 08-24-2012, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by PhilaCap

In my experience, the worst people in Wiss. Valley Park are the ignorant white people who let there dogs roam unleashed.

Don't get me started on white people. I often cant tell the difference between them and their dogs until one starts humping my leg and the dog has the good manners to look ashamed. They should all be taken to a volcano a thrown in and incinerated. MIRIGHT?

**MizFormaldehyde** · 09-02-2012, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Sharkfood

I visited Devil's Pool a lot in 1996 and 1997 and it was very trashy and graffitied back then; so this is not a new development.

I've never been able to find it. It was either the wrong time of year or too hot to keep wandering.

But, that picture is crazy. I've never seen that at Valley Green. Even in June.

**Jerry19127** · 09-02-2012, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by thoth

I don't know why everyone zeros in on Puerto Ricans (maybe because they are more conspicuous for coming as a family unit or because you don't see a lot of PR outside of eastern North Phila) but every time I've gone there have been plenty of white and black kids from Philly stinking up the joint. I've watched people from all different ethnicities acting like pigs. In that photo upthread half the people in foreground are white!

It's actually a pretty incredible spot to encounter out of nowhere, like 200 people having a party in the middle of an urban park system, but yeah it's gotten out of control and the littering (which was always present) has only multiplied.

The park is shared by eveyone but the VAST majority of the swimmers and picnic toting trash leaving messes are Hispanics. The photo upthread is all Hispanics. They come in all shades. They are the culprits. Not the black fisherman. Not the white trash kids from Roxborough taking a dip. Not the Mt Airy hipster playing with his mutt and not the recreational wakers. Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans bringing their whole clan for a loud picnic ndleaving their entire refuse behind. They don't know any better and most of them don't care. They live in a country where they are not forced to assimilate anyway and every attempt is made to accomodate them so what's the point in learning things that are socialy unacceptable?

**The Count** · 09-02-2012, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry19127

The park is shared by eveyone but the VAST majority of the swimmers and picnic toting trash leaving messes are Hispanics. The photo upthread is all Hispanics. They come in all shades. They are the culprits. Not the black fisherman. Not the white trash kids from Roxborough taking a dip. Not the Mt Airy hipster playing with his mutt and not the recreational wakers. Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans bringing their whole clan for a loud picnic ndleaving their entire refuse behind. They don't know any better and most of them don't care. They live in a country where they are not forced to assimilate anyway and every attempt is made to accomodate them so what's the point in learning things that are socialy unacceptable?

I went for a run on Forbidden yeaterday and can confirm two things:

1) The Devil's Pool crowd at around 2:00 PM yesterday was 95% Hispanic. Based on the number of Bud pounders I saw, I'd say Puerto Rican.

2) Disgusting amount of people, (4 out of 5 were white), walking with large dogs off the leash. I can't believe people do this.

**borntochill** · 09-02-2012, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by The Count

I went for a run on Forbidden yeaterday and can confirm two things:

1) The Devil's Pool crowd at around 2:00 PM yesterday was 95% Hispanic. Based on the number of Bud pounders I saw, I'd say Puerto Rican.

2) Disgusting amount of people, (4 out of 5 were white), walking with large dogs off the leash. I can't believe people do this.

Horrible. The clear moral of this story is that 4 out of 5 white people suck, and 95 out of 100 Hispanic people suck, especially if they are Bud-pounding Puerto Ricans. Maybe the solution is to ban Whites and Hispanics from the Wissahickon, or at least give them the stink eye if we run across them.

**Malloy** · 09-02-2012, 11:52 AM

Well, not quite. 4 out of 5 white people walking large dogs off leash. I have a small dog who is walked on leash, so I can still get in, thankfully.

Originally Posted by borntochill

Horrible. The clear moral of this story is that 4 out of 5 white people suck, and 95 out of 100 Hispanic people suck, especially if they are Bud-pounding Puerto Ricans. Maybe the solution is to ban Whites and Hispanics from the Wissahickon, or at least give them the stink eye if we run across them.

**The Count** · 09-02-2012, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by borntochill

Horrible. The clear moral of this story is that 4 out of 5 white people suck, and 95 out of 100 Hispanic people suck, especially if they are Bud-pounding Puerto Ricans. Maybe the solution is to ban Whites and Hispanics from the Wissahickon, or at least give them the stink eye if we run across them.

Just calling it as I saw it.

You're free to draw your own generalizations.

**Bleeper** · 09-02-2012, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by The Count

I went for a run on Forbidden yeaterday and can confirm two things:

2) Disgusting amount of people, (4 out of 5 were white), walking with large dogs off the leash. I can't believe people do this.

Friday afternoon on a narrow trail near Kitchens Lane I saw a white female, dressed in all black, expresso in one hand and talking on a cell phone with the other, probably one of those NY-Delphians. She had 2 monster poodles running loose chasing a mountain biker going way too fast who eventually crashed into a fallen tree.

I tend to steer clear of Devil's Pool

**The Count** · 09-02-2012, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by The Count

I went for a run on Forbidden yeaterday and can confirm two things:

1) The Devil's Pool crowd at around 2:00 PM yesterday was 95% Hispanic. Based on the number of Bud pounders I saw, I'd say Puerto Rican.

2) Disgusting amount of people, (4 out of 5 were white), walking with large dogs off the leash. I can't believe people do this.

I should further note that in the hour I spent on the path I covered about 6 miles and I did not see a ranger or policeman at any point.

Why do we have cops with Trek mountain bikes if not to patrol the parks?

**BarryG** · 09-02-2012, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Bleeper

Friday afternoon on a narrow trail near Kitchens Lane I saw a white female, dressed in all black, expresso in one hand and talking on a cell phone with the other, probably one of those NY-Delphians. She had 2 monster poodles running loose chasing a mountain biker going way too fast who eventually crashed into a fallen tree.

I tend to steer clear of Devil's Pool

Man Bleeper you always are in the right place at the right time. Don't know how you do it.