There was a time when we didn't feel the need for outside consultants telling us what to do in our parks. There was a time when we didn't buy new fads from catalogs, but maintained the icons built by the WPA. There was a time when people cherished our parks for their beauty.
photocredit: molovinsky
Some of us still cherish our parks for their beauty, and it is that beauty that is most in danger in many of them. Here is hoping that as park projects move forward in Allentown, a renewed beatification is at the forefront of projects.
ReplyDeleteEnvironmentally sensible construction, riparian restoration, and invasive species removal/maintenance is key to achieving such a standard.
Fingers crossed.
andrew, the parks projects are moving forward, but not the ones you hope for. on wednesday, the council committee gets the trail network presentation, first step for approval. there have been no consultants or meetings scheduled for the invasive species. the cost of the network consultants alone could have paid for much of the removal.
ReplyDeletethe WPA steps at irving park will be repaired this summer, in consideration for D'Amore's support and councils rubber stamping. this is the smallest wpa structure in the city. many homeowners have more steps than this.
in my opinion, when they're done with all the paved paths everywhere, both beauty and environment will be severely compromised.
Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteEnvironmentally-sensible construction.
Hmmm...Remember the Blyth!
Michael: Thank you for highlighting the WPA. In 1935 it was the largest employer in the USA with over 3.5 million Americans employed. Also known as "We Piss Around" the WPA was widely criticized by the bloggers of the day as socialism and a "bureaucrats boondoggle." Many thought the money was wasted on the poor and lazy. I admire you for highlighting a successful government program run by bureaucrats and politicians. I guess, or at least hope, that in your heart, you really believe we can make a better world though collective action and democratic government. You are not as cynical as your critics portray.
ReplyDeletegary, if truth be told, i would have probably been a critic of the wpa during the 30's. my familiarity with the program is mostly limited to allentown, which benefited from some magnificent structures; mostly in the parks, but also the art deco post office. since they cost so much money then, by efficiency not being a criteria, all the more reason that the allentown park system should preserve them now.
ReplyDeleteThese ladies look like my great aunts! They never lived in PA, though. I guess there were a lot of women who looked like that. Thanks for the picture.
ReplyDelete