The Free Library of Philadelphia is pleased to host its newest exhibition, “The Struggle for Nature in the City,” in the lobby of the Parkway Central Library. The exhibition highlights the history of Philadelphia’s expansive Wissahickon Valley and examine the complicated, successful effort to preserve its unique landscape against the relentless intrusion of the city. The Wissahickon Valley is a microcosm of the intricate relationship between urban and natural environments and a model for the successful preservation of natural spaces within an encroaching metropolis for cities worldwide.

The exhibition  features photographs, topographic maps, and detailed excerpts is taking place in conjunction with the publication of Metropolitan Paradise: The Struggle for Nature in the City, Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley 1620-2020, written by David Contosta and Carol Franklin, and published by Saint Joseph’s University Press. The exhibition will be on display in the lobby of the Parkway Central Library through April 15.