REMEDIES

"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry." 

Thomas Fuller 

The FOPHL believe that these elements should be included in a lake restoration plan. As you can see, some tasks can be done handily by a Public Works crew; others require long term planning, collaboration, funding and commitment:


Watershed: 

• Continued PPC efforts to increase infiltration, reduce runoff and improve water quality. 
• Use of retention basins/ponds to reduce sedimentation. 
• More focus on hillside runoff/sedimentation surrounding the Lake. 
• Docent led tours to publicize PHR and the Lake. 

Lake Proper: 

• Dredging is needed as routine maintenance; determine schedule. 
• Examine sewer system under the Lake for leakage. 
• Examine drain for storm backup into the Lake. 
• Evaluate utility of delta as a wetland. 
• Removal of concrete rim only if absolutely required. Now it serves the dual purpose of checking shoreline erosion and providing visitors with a front row, lakeside seat. 
• Continued monitoring of water quality. 
• Retention ditches below both ravines. 
• Repair and maintain Phipps-side overflow basin. (Done by DPW 12/2014) 
• The hillsides should be converted into an arboretum that would showcase native plants and trees, in cooperation with PPC, Phipps & West PA Conservancy. 
• The Phipps hillside was partially denuded to allow sunlight to reach the Sustainability Center’s solar panels. Reexamine old plans of Phipps to create a cascade from Sustainable Gardens to PHL. 

PHL (photo by Dave DiCello)

Lake Area Amenities: 

• Benches/picnic tables. Use of back lawn, perhaps as grove. 
• Restore stone cascade feed into the Lake. 
• Repair/improve looped trail around lake (replace asphalt w/limestone.) 
• On-site signage of the Lake history & directional signs by its gateways. 
• Run underground wiring for lights if possible. 
• Eventual boathouse rebuild. 
• Examine potential expansion of activities (examine private vendor) such as boating with small paddle boats; restock fish in the lake; fishing programs for city youth; ice skating - rentals & lessons; refreshment sales. Include docent tours - school outings, university environmental & nature, and general public.
• Create a campaign to create awareness of the lake as a City asset; perhaps a 5K through the Hollow and around the Lake could serve as a centerpiece. 

Lake Access:

• Current Access: Visitor Centers steps; Visitor Centers cobblestone road to trail; Boundary Street across tracks from bike lane; Anderson Grove steps; Bartlett Street/Lower Panther Hollow Trail. 
• Repair Upper Trail steps entrance to shoreline. 
• Widen/clear lake loop entrance trail from Lower PH Trail past Phipps Run to footbridge.
• Evaluate cul-de-sac entry/parking from Boundary Street across tracks 
• Footbridge across tracks/at-grade crossing; ADA compliant. 
• Main gateway from Visitor’s Center 
• Build walking trail along Phipps Run arms, connecting to both Steve Faloon Trail and the Lily Pond. 
• Remove fence, open Lower PH trail entrance past Phipps that begins at the Columbus Statue, a traditional entrance to PHL.