Reclaiming Wissahickon Park
Wissahickon Park in the West Ambler neighborhood of Whitpain Township is a powerful example of a community reclaiming and reimagining a long-closed public space. Once an active township park, the site was closed in the mid-1980s due to environmental concerns, and it sat dormant for nearly forty years. After decades of environmental remediation and regulatory oversight, Whitpain Township finally received approval in 2024 to move ahead with a new vision for the park, backed by significant federal and state grant funding along with more than a million dollars in local investment.
In 2025, township officials awarded multi-million-dollar contracts for Phase 1 construction, covering the core park infrastructure, utilities, and amenities. Throughout planning, West Ambler residents participated in revitalization meetings and park design sessions, helping shape a park program focused on play, gathering, and connection along the Wissahickon corridor. Wissahickon Park features new play areas, open spaces, and community-oriented facilities that reflect the neighborhood’s priorities.
The centerpiece of the redevelopment is the new playground, supplied and installed by General Recreation. General Recreation partners with Landscape Structures, a nationally recognized manufacturer known for innovative, inclusive playground designs, to bring a modern, accessible play environment to the park. Together, we delivered contemporary equipment that supports a wide range of ages and abilities while meeting current safety and accessibility standards.
The school-age play area is anchored by the impressive Alpha Link Towers. Together, the two towers add extra climbing challenges and are connected by an elevated crawl tunnel that creates an exciting route from one to the other. The result is an engaging space that encourages both active play and social interaction.
The playground also has inclusive play features such as the We-Go-Round (an accessible merry-go-round), the Friendship swing, two sensory play areas, a ZipKrooz, a preschool play area with age-appropriate play events and other climbers.
The new playground at Wissahickon Park is the result of Whitpain Township’s commitment to safe, high quality recreation for the entire community.
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