People gathered at Devil's Pool watch a man jump from the rocks above, to the left. (Photo from public YouTube post)

by Pete Mazzaccaro

The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks and Recreation announced last week that it would be closing weekend access to the Wissahickon Creek’s notorious Devil’s Pool. The closure, which affects the park’s Orange and White trails, will be enforced through Sunday Sept. 30.

“Parks & Recreation is implementing this temporary closure to ensure public safety,” a department press release read. “The Philadelphia Police Department and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Rangers will ensure public compliance with the restriction of the trails accessing this area of the Wissahickon Valley.”

Park rangers and police will enforce the rule. All other areas of the park will be open.

Devil’s Pool and its abuse is a nearly annual issue in the park. It’s typically seen as dangerous. Jumping from high ledges into the pool is an obvious risk. Water in both the Wissahickon Creek and the Cresheim Creek, which feeds Devil’s Pool, have tested positive for fecal matter, the result of storm water runoff that brings pollutants from yards, streets and other park areas into the creeks.

The real nuisance, however, might very well be the damage left behind by the large crowds that gather there on hot days. Many of the historic swimming hole’s rocks have been routinely defaced by graffiti and tons of litter are left behind that must be cleaned by volunteers, typically with Friends of the Wissahickon, the non-profit organization that leads restoration and maintenance efforts in the park.

In a clarifying post on Facebook, FOW executive director Maura McCarthy said a main rationale for the closure was the Devil’s Pool areas inaccessibility to emergency personnel.

“Although there are MANY issues to tackle at the Pool, this is intended to do just one thing: redirect the large volume of weekend visitors to areas of the park where EMS access is more readily available,” McCarthy wrote. “To truly address the issues at the Pool and ensure it’s safe for the volume of users who are coming, we (FOW and the City) will need to invest some serious dollars in infrastructure – cell service, bridges, boardwalks, toilets, water fountains, etc. this will cost several million dollars.”

McCarthy reiterated that the closure was a temporary solution to dealing with the ever more crowded pool.

“The Devils Pool taskforce does not consider this closure ‘the solution’ – it’s a stopgap for the next few weeks to get us through the end of the season while more lasting solutions that preserve the site and public use are discussed,” She wrote.

Pete Mazzaccaro can be reached at 215-248-8802 or pete@chestnuthilllocal.com