Currently, young people park at Robin Hood and begin playing disc golf at hole #1. In front of the first tee, appears to be a small swamp like pond.
What they're actually standing next to was one of the first features of Lehigh Parkway. In 1928 General Trexler and the city fathers starting acquiring different parcels in the Little Lehigh ravine. Disc Golf Hole #1 is over one of the important feeder springs of our water source.
In addition to now being used as a recreation feature, it is also a no mow zone for ecology. With a little modification, there is no reason why it cannot also be the beautiful, historic, architectural feature enjoyed by generations of Allentonians. There currently is one inch of sod covering the stones lining the spring pond. It easily pulls right off the top of the stones. I propose that the stones be exposed around the pond and on the short channel to the magnificent miniature bridge.
The grass on the stream side of the pond could be weedwacked one foot beyond the stones, helping to preserve the stonework. On the north side of the pond, the grass could be weedwacked two feet wide, allowing access to the bridge. Since the no mow zone is already interrupted by the pond and channel, this would involve only a total of three foot of weedwacking, and only a short distance into the zone, and only to one end of the bridge. Although a few lining stones are missing from the pond, I do not propose any renovation, it is not necessary.
We have lost two WPA structures in the park; The bridge to the Island and the Boat Landing, let us not lose a third. With Park Department approval, this minor work could be done either by the city or volunteers. A modest proposal.
I agree, Michael.
ReplyDeleteWe'll volunteer to help you uncover this little bridge that 20years ago was cared for. This No. 1 disc golf hole also has resulted in barren earth that once was grass, garbage pails, debris and a dirty-looking piece of plywood where disc golf rules are posted and as fast torn down.
ReplyDeleteanon 7:58, i hope to get the approval and cooperation of the city for this proposal. also, revealing the stone work and design is not incompatible with the existing disk golf tee, nor do i propose relocating the tee. if approved, if the weedwacking would be done by the city workers or volunteers, would be the Directors decision.
ReplyDeletePlease keep showing these Then
ReplyDeleteand Now photos. They speak volumes.
Mr. Molovinsky,
ReplyDeleteIt would be so much better as daily visitors to this site if
the city relocated Tee No. 1
a little further west. It really would make a difference on so many levels. Tee No. 1 is too cluttered where it is. It looks like a mess all the time.
the before pictures are difficult to obtain. for instance, i added the historical society label on the corner. after spending hours there, i found that photo in a obscure file which they had to hunt for. the photo of the island with bridge is from a private collection. the photo of the boat landing also is from a private collection. both the public library and historical society virtually have no information or documentation on the WPA projects. worst yet, i have been told that a large number of historical photographs were discarded when The Morning Call changed hands.
ReplyDeleteanon 9:10, i believe you may mean to move the tee further east, west would be on the other side of the parking lot. at any rate, my objective is to reveal the stone lined pond, the short channel to the bridge and the bridge. any suggestions concerning the no mowing or disc golf etc, would be counter productive to that end.
anon 9:10, i believe you may mean to move the tee further east, west would be on the other side of the parking lot. at any rate, my objective is to reveal the stone lined pond, the short channel to the bridge and the bridge. any suggestions concerning the no mowing or disc golf etc, would be counter productive to that end.
ReplyDeleteMay 26, 2010 10:40 AM
thank you.
The worst kept Call secret is that the archives from before
ReplyDelete1980s (we think) were destroyed by the new owners (before this new guy). These archives were a wealth of historical documentation about the city-- dating by more than 100 years.
Did you know the Call actually had a Librarian? We could telephone her and she would look up material and actually send it to us. We would pay a very small fee, but can you imagine that
kind of a service. If one was working on a school project,
she was an enormous help.
Large numbers of historical photographs discarded when The Morning Call changed hands?
ReplyDeleteGee, how thoughtful of the new owners of TMC.
I was always taught the newspaper was the first draft of history.
I know why TMC would be interested in wiping out all trace of local tradition, history and culture --- but that would be another story.
ROLF OELER