Jeanette At Bat

This past Tuesday evening over 70 Allentownians gathered in Council Chambers to express their dissatisfaction with the Cedar Creek Park Plans. There is a special bond between long term residents of this community and our nationally recognized park system. We see the park as perfection of design, requiring only dedicated maintenance. Unfortunately, the new Park Director sees it as a palette to make his mark. By now readers know my reverence for the parks, so lets get to the meat of the meeting. The meeting was called by Tony Phillips, both Chairman of the Park and Recreation Committee, but also Republican candidate for mayor. Although he was stonewalled by the other committee members, and the administration, councilwoman Jeanette Eichenwald joined Tony on the dais. She told the citizens that she fully believed a compromise was needed, and a plan could be reached which served the sensibilities of all involved. Enter Michael Donovan; although Donovan was not at the meeting, on his blog, called Inclusion*, he reveals that he will sponsor legislation to interrupt the project for proper public input. Proponents of the plan must realize that the Rose Garden hasn't had a wedding pavilion for 80 years, a month or two more of deliberation is reasonable. Although Tony may well introduce a similar bill, can democrat Eichenwald really support Pawlowski's opponent? There is probably nobody on council more conciliatory than Donovan, also a democrat. He's looking for someone to second his proposal. I'm confident Jeanette will seize the opportunity to put meaningful action behind her eloquent words.

www.donovanforallentown.blogspot.com

Can Phillips Unwrap the Present ?

Tony Phillips, who thus far has offered little as a candidate, didn't even seem to realize the present he was handed last night. Over seventy people filled Council Chambers to vent their outrage over plans to remake our beloved Cedar Creek Park. Mayor Pawlowski, who was in the building, ignored these taxpaying voters. More insulting, he directed his park director not to attend. In the Mayor's mind, and that of councilman Peter Schweyer, the issue is closed. Truth be known, even the Morning Call reporter doesn't fully understand the ramifications. He quoted the mayor that there was sufficient public input and noted a drawing of the plan was taped on the wall near council chambers for months. Council Chambers hold 125 people, Allentown has 108,000 citizens. When a Mayor from Chicago, and a Recreation Director from Philadelphia, wish to remake Allentown's historic, iconic Park System, public notification must be more than a rendering taped on a wall; that packed Council Chamber last night demonstrates the notification was insufficient. Tony concluded by telling the crowd that they must organize and make their feeling's known to Council. WRONG!. Don't tell the citizens what they must do, they attended last evening expecting you to do something. Last night was the second time some of these people came to the council chamber to express their displeasure. Tony, it's time to show some leadership, especially if you want to be mayor. Council is on record as stating they didn't fully understand the scope and scale of the plans which they approved. Council didn't even see plans for the "Destination Playground" until minutes before they approved it. The City Charter demands fourteen days of due diligence, unless the rules were suspended. There was no such suspension that evening.
Submit an ordinance to your colleagues, Ms. Eichenwald will second it, withholding use of those park funds until which time there is proper public input.

Park Assault Unreported

On July 15th, thirteen of fourteen citizens, including a direct descendent of General Trexler, told City Council that the new recreational based plans for Cedar Park would be an assault on their quality of life. All lamented the overuse of the park, and the total disregard for the park's traditions. The fourteenth speaker complained about his neighbor's pigeons. The Morning Call this week wrote a two page feature about the pigeons, and today's "quote for the week" was about the pigeons. The pigeons of course concern one person, and are a temporary problem, while the park plans upset thousands of citizens and are changes forever. Also, in today's paper, the president of the Wildlands Conservancy, Christopher Kocher, joined his associates in dancing on the head of pin. He is "Confident" the City will protect South Mountain, even though it spend $7,500 hiring a professional lumber consultant after signing a "Appropriate Stewardship" agreement with the Conservancy in April.

In spite of enabling by the Conservancy, and confused priorities by The Morning Call, I urge all Allentownians to once again attempt to defend our parks this Tuesday evening, July 28th, at 6:30, City Council Chamber.

photocredit: Thomas Grim

Weigh In On 1948

1948 was a good year for Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. Mack Trucks, Lehigh Structural Steel, General Electric and almost all factories were going full steam. President Truman stopped by to give a speech. The Allentown Cardinals played the first game in their new ballpark, Breadon Field. The baby boom was going full tilt:



The school district unveiled Lehigh Parkway and Midway Manor Elementary Schools and the new professional style football stadium. Donald Hock was Mayor, and although the last beer was being brewed on Lawrence Street at Daeufer Brewery, the Paddock joined many new restaurants opening that year. Photo's from Dorney Park in 1948.

Phillips Serves Up Weitzel

This coming Tuesday evening, July 28th at 6:30 pm., Tony Phillips will be serving up Greg Weitzel in the Council Chambers, but it won't be a fresh meal. Tony, as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, wants Weitzel to explain the park plans, and for the public to have an opportunity for input; trouble is the horse already left the barn long ago. Council, including Phillips, approved all the appropriations for the Cedar Park Renovations last year, and didn't question at that time the lack of public participation. Never the less, I will attend the barbecue, with a few questions, both for Weitzel and Phillips.

Plaza Growers Market

Every Wednesday at lunch time, 11:30 to 1:30, find a small, but interesting mix of local growers and food vendors at the PPL Plaza, 9th and Hamilton Streets. The market also provides live entertainment by some of the better known local musicians.

photocredit: molovinsky

Friends of the Allentown Parks

Friends of the Allentown Parks was started in 2008 to preserve, promote and improve the parks for everyone. They foster stewardship of the environment and city parks. So far they have condoned the reflective pools being dug below their original depth, compromising the structural integrity of the walls. They have also remained silent regarding the lumbering plan on South Mountain, and not a peep or squeak about digging up the Old Fashion Garden during it's blooming season, despite having hosted a flower tour last month. Their motto is, We Can Make The Difference. Click on the above image to see the difference they have made.

Weitzel Mocks City Council

Wednesday evening, as citizens lined up at City Council to speak against the plans for Cedar Park, I saw both the Chief Planner and Community Development Director leave the meeting and make frantic calls from the hallway. By the time Council members told the citizens that they would summon Weitzel, Weitzel was summoning the bulldozers. By Thursday morning the old fashion garden was dug up. Never mind that the garden is in full bloom, Weitzel doesn't care about that. This is an insult to the City Council, and the Citizens of Allentown. This is an insult to Friends of the Parks and anybody who supported these plans as well intended.

Addendum: Allentown has two flower gardens, side by side, rose and old fashion. So far, only the old fashion, which is in full
bloom, has been closed off and dug up, in both directions. Thus far, the bulldozers haven't reached the rose garden

photocredit: image borrowed from blogger Andrew Kleiner

The Perfect Storm

In August of 1955, the Lehigh Valley got hit with Hurricane Diane, one of the most powerful to ever hit the area. The flood stage reached by the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers has never been seen before or since. The Allentown Parks weathered the storm fairly well. Unfortunately now, fifty four years later, our beloved parks are about to be destroyed by the perfect storm. In 2005, for the first time ever, we elected an outsider for Mayor. In 2007 he hired an outsider for Park and Recreation Director. This gentleman, well qualified in recreation, has no background in parks. In 2002, because the Afflerbach Administration was misusing Trexler Trust funds for operational expenses, those funds were frozen by Court Order and accumulated. In 2005 The Trexler Trust paid for a study of appropriate park projects, done by an outside firm from Philadelphia, for future guidance on how its funds might be used; also during this year certain members of the Trexler Trust became involved in the effort to elect Pawlowski. By 2008 the Perfect Storm had formed to assault the historic view of our Park System; an outside park director, an outside mayor, a huge amount of money and a politically supportive Trexler Trust.

The plans for Cedar Creek Park offend almost everybody who grew up in Allentown; most of us didn't learn of them until recently, long after they had been funded by City Council. They include a Destination Playground above Cedar Beach Pool and a Wedding Pavilion in the Rose Garden. Ironically, the Philadelphia Study, known now as the Master Plan, calls for less use in Cedar Park. The WildLands Conservancy will plant a Riparian Buffer Zone throughout the Park System. As these bushes grow higher, except for a few places, park goers will not be able to see or approach the creeks. As the Riparian Buffers grow wider, more recreational venues are planned in the remaining green spaces; including skateparks, additional parking lots, additional picnic pavilions and restrooms. The Conservancy refers to seeing the creek as the old fashioned English and French Park values. What the Conservancy fails to understand is that our parks are not wildlands, they are parks. What the mayor and park director fail to understand is that thousands of Allentownians treasure our old fashion park values. Although much of these projects will be funded by the Trexler Trust and other grants, the maintenance costs will be borne by the Allentown taxpayers. I and other old fashion types will continue in our attempt to defend our parks.

Addendum: Of the $3.8 million dollars Mr. Weitzel was allocated to remodel our park system, $482,000.00 may be spent on
professional services and consultation

Defend The Parks

Only you can defend our park. Please join me and your neighbors this Wednesday evening to convince City Council that these plans are not compatible with the historic traditions of the Allentown Park System. Contrary to Administration myth, the greater public has been virtually unaware of these plans until very recently. Because of forwarding Trexler Trust Capital Maintenance Funds from one year to the next, City Council has never voted on these specific plans. We do not need a "Destination Playground". We do not want weddings in the Rose Garden, or an expansion of the picnic pavilions. We may speak only at the "Courtesy of the Floor", which starts precisely at 7:30 pm, this Wednesday, July 15th. The bulldozers are literally on the way; this is the first and last chance to preserve our local values.
City Council Chamber
First Floor City Hall
Wednesday, July 15, 7:30pm

Comment #5

Today's most interesting article on timbering South Mountain begged one question; although it says the Pawlowski administration had not mentioned the lumber survey publicly, the reporter knew about the project? I answered that question on the article's topix comment section, only to find it deleted, comment #5, much like the credit which should have appeared in the article.
I was first informed of the project on June 27th, and again, by a second source a few days later. I withheld publication until I could confirm the story through a document on July 2nd. Although I usually post in the morning, I published "Timber" that evening.
The Morning Call article, ten days later, had much more information than I knew, which was only that the inventory was complete on the east side of Rt. 78/309, and the west side fieldwork was expected to be complete by July 10th. I declined to reveal my sources, which the reporter fully understood. I don't know if there is an established protocol for Newspapers acknowledging blogger originated stories. I do know I was told this blog would be credited, but I realize a reporter is subject to an editor. I do know my comment was deleted.

Rose Garden Wedding Pavilion

For over sixty years brides have been photographed in the rose garden. Although this tradition is somewhat of an inconvenience upon those there to view the flowers, who could not wish even a stranger best wishes on their special day. It seems as if we were not hospitable enough; our "new to town" mayor, and our "new to town" park director have a better idea. A pavilion is being built which will accommodate actual weddings. One can only imagine the wear and tear this ill conceived horror plan will have on our historic garden. No need to buy flowers, just pick a few. Whatever is thrown at the bride will litter the ground. Whatever is drunk in celebration, will overflow the trash receptacles. Parking will increase drastically, but worry not, there is a suggestion to allow diagonal parking. In my youth, the homes across from the Rose Garden was millionaires row. I can only hope those current residents appreciate festivity. On Monday I will make a suggestion how others can join me, and defend our park against this most unwanted intrusion.

Wildlands Conservancy Sell's Out

In today's Morning Call*, Abigail Pattishall, praises the park plans at Cedar Park; apparently she didn't drive by Cedar Beach last evening. Pattishall's praise was earned by the Park Department agreeing to plant riparian buffers along the creek west of Ott Street. Riparian buffers are shrubs left to grow along the creek banks. They reduce the amount of fertilizers and pesticides which can enter a stream; never mind that the park land is not farmed, nor are chemicals applied. The zones also help reduce flooding. The Conservancy, in exchange for this gesture, has ignored the consequences of all the remaining plans. The new plans increase the amount of impervious surface in the flood plain dramatically. How much surface will be covered by the new Destination Playground and it's required parking? How much surface will be covered by the new pavilions, walkways and lighted paths?

Had Ms. Pattishall drove by Cedar Beach last evening she would have seen hundreds and hundreds of cars parked on all the grassland between the creek and Hamilton Street. (Basketball Tournament). The compaction of the soil that occurred last evening will negate any benefit against flooding provided by a riparian buffer. I can accept the riparian buffer zone project. I cannot accept groups, which should know better, condoning intrusions on the park system, just because their pet project is accommodated.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-pullqt.6953702jul09,0,6487124.story

Do You Remember

Do you remember when the circus used to come to the Fairgrounds?

Do you remember when elders could still drive around Trexler Park or past Muhlenberg Lake, and through Lehigh Parkway from one end to the other?

Do you remember when brides were grateful to be photographed in the Rose Garden, even without a special pavilion or concrete walkways?

Do you remember when the Park System accommodated some recreation, as opposed to the Recreation Department tolerating some park.

Do you remember when we were the All American City, even without having a new master plan for the Park System?

photocredit: molovinsky

July 2nd Op-Ed Piece, The Morning Call

In what should be a time for fiscal caution, Allentown and its Parks Department is embarking on an ambitious plan to create new maintenance intensive attractions in Cedar Creek Park.
Before I elaborate on the details, let me make a confession. I believe the Allentown parks system was perfected years ago, and we need only be good stewards of that perfection. I believe our primary benefactor, Gen. Harry Trexler, envisioned the parks to be a passive retreat for the enjoyment of nature.

Although Allentown has administratively combined Parks and Recreation into one department, we must cherish our open spaces. What we really need is more supervised playgrounds and basketball courts in center city.

The new project includes additional pavilions at both the Rose Garden and the picnic grove below Cedar Crest College, complete with lighted walking paths. The primary attraction is what is being billed as a ''Destination Playground.'' This playground would be the biggest in this part of the U.S. and also be completely handicapped accessible.
To facilitate this accessibility on the sloping land above the Cedar Beach pool, the land would have to be excavated flat. The plans call for accommodating more than 500 children, including special restroom and changing facilities.

Although the concept of Allentown having a playground designed for children with disabilities is most commendable, the problem lies with the scale of the project. An existing playground should be retrofitted for the purpose of serving our own children who have special needs. The maintenance expectations and liability issues of a mega destination would seem to be expenses and risks that Allentown should not assume at this time.

I attended the council meeting when this proposal was approved. It was an emotional meeting, complete with parents of special needs children conveying their hardships with existing conventional playgrounds. The enthusiasm and good intentions of the Parks Department also was contagious.
There were a few opportunities for public input, but for the most part, residents have only recently learned of these plans through a recent article in The Morning Call.

Many people share my perception that we are fixing things that are not broken; worse yet, we are creating things that will require a great deal of maintenance and expense at a time when we can least afford it.

Allentown and its parks system have a special bond. Perhaps these ambitious plans should have been put to public referendum; at the least they deserve much more public deliberation. In his will, Gen. Trexler gave the parks and money to maintain them to ''the citizens of that city (Allentown).'' The mayor and council should delay this plan until those citizens have a chance to be heard.
Michael Molovinsky

I HAVE REPRODUCED THIS OP-ED PIECE TO ADD IT TO THE RECORD OF MY PREVIOUS WRITINGS ON THIS SUBJECT, AND AS A FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR FUTURE POSTS ON THIS TOPIC. I HAVE RECEIVED A LARGE VOLUME OF OFFLINE FEEDBACK CONCURRING WITH MY SENTIMENTS.

19th Street Loses Gem

Although much attention has been focused on the Theater District between Liberty and Tilghman Streets, 19th Street just lost an architectural gem. The mediterranean stucco masterpiece, on the corner of Greenleaf Street, dated back to the late 20's and sported a side yard, which ultimately sealed it's fate. Although there are several mediterraneans on 19th, this one had character galore. Among it's features were a tower above the front door, scalloped parapets, and an ornate chimney. A villa type wall connected the house to the garage. The house had been vacant and in ill repair for a number of years. The combination of much needed work and the side yard made the property more valuable as a small office parcel than a residence. Allentown has been lucky in retaining it's iconic buildings. Although a number of buildings were lost on downtown Hamilton Street, it has retained most of the mansions west of 12th Street.

TIMBER!

In an incredible act of fiscal desperation, the Pawlowski Administration is preparing to justify harvesting timber on the South Mountain Reservoir. It is being filtered through the Park Department as woodland management, blah, blah, blah, but make no mistake, they're selling the tree's because they need money. Currently the timber is being surveyed. I must have missed the public announcement for the meeting on that plan. Our heritage, our parks, are being threatened by the perfect storm. The Parks and Recreation departments have been administratively combined. The director's background and training is in recreation. The administration has created no less than two cover groups; The Environmental Advisory Council and Friends of the Parks. Both groups have unwittingly failed in their own mission, as stewards of the parks. In the first phrase of the Cedar Park Plan, the structural integrity of the Mirror Ponds has been compromised by under digging the stone walls. A contractor now will apply gunite in an attempt to stabilize the walls. The Administration and Parks Department is using surveys and studies to justify the pre-determined master plan; for example a survey taken on the east side of Cedar Parkway of young people at the basketball courts may be used to justify extending recreational venues into the traditionally passive Rose Garden side of the park. Press conferences will be held, awards will be won, resumes will be enhanced, but what kind of park system will our grandchildren inherit?