Devil’s Pool swimmers risk citations in weekend crackdown

Police will begin handing out summary citations this weekend to folks caught cooling off in a popular Northwest Philadelphia swimming hole.

Last Sunday, officers with the city’s 14th and 5th districts started patrolling the swath of Fairmount Park that encompasses Devil’s Pool, a spot that straddles Mount Airy and Roxborough.

Park rangers with the city’s Parks & Recreation Department were also on hand as part of an effort to stop, among other activities, illegal swimming, parking and littering in an area that runs roughly between Livezy Lane and the Valley Green Inn on Forbidden Drive.

Denise Larabee with the Friends of the Wissahickon, a nonprofit organization that has worked to keep the area immediately surrounding Devil’s Pool clean, said police handed out 92 warnings on July 8. They’ll return this Sunday, but will instead be handing out citations.

“We’re very grateful that the police have taken the initiative to enforce the park rules for the safety of everyone and so that everyone can enjoy the park,” she said.

According to a news release police and park rangers will also be cracking down on illegal parking on streets leading to the area and violations of leash laws and open container laws. This weekend park-goers should expect to see officers and rangers patrolling in cars, on foot, bikes and motorcycles.