My walks with my dog along the creek in Cedar Creek Park between Ott and Cedar Crest Blvd. have been some of the best times of my life. I have met many nice people and dogs in the past twelve years. I have seen and spoke with many people picnicking, reading a book, or just relaxing to the gurgling of the water while laying on a blanket along this beautiful creek. None of my dogs through the years, nor I, have ever had any ticks in this park until recently. All of this is gone now, along with many friends who will no longer come here because of the decision to "save" this creek (the clearest, cleanest in the area) by allowing weeds to grow along it, outwards of 20-30 feet or more. Please tell mayor Pawlowski and the park department to end this nonsense. No one at the park agrees with or likes the weeds, but say that there is nothing anyone can do about it. General Trexler intended for this land to be enjoyed by people, their children and pets, not to deny access to the creek. Please people speak up and demand that these weeds be cut. It will not take long for the ticks, mosquitos, snakes and vermin and the deadly diseases they carry, lyme disease, west nile virus, etc. to spread out from the park to the homes and neighborhood surrounding it. No one would tolerate their neighbors to have weeds growing next door to them. Please do not allow the city to destroy the beauty of this park any longer.
Tony Martin
photo of park in 2008, when the creek was still accessible
reprinted from August of 2012
UPDATE JUNE18,2018: Although there is a new mayor and new park director, the weed wall referred to above in 2012 is still there. It is time that we let Mayor O'Connell and Park Director Lindsay Taylor know that this is unacceptable. There must be at least some spots allowing open access to our creeks. Both the mayor and park director read this blog. Let them know how you feel about this in the comment section below.
I agree that this is a foolish policy that has likely had harsh environmental effects. I dislike a lot of things the city has done to denigrate the quality and aesthetics of our once heralded park system. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
ReplyDeleteVery sad to see the condition of the parks which used to set Allentown apart from other communities.
ReplyDeleteBut tick infested weeds fight global warming! Or something.
ReplyDeleteHow many signatures do you think it would take to have the Mayor just order the parks department to mow the lawn?
I'm sure that if the City Council of Allentown concerned itself enough to legalize marijuana, they can pass an ordinance to cut down the weeds in the city parks. This is absolute lunacy.
ReplyDeleteGood Question J.A. 7:37am!
ReplyDeleteI would sign it, and could probably accumulate a goodly number of other signatures as well....Based upon how the request is structured!
PJF
Council meets Wednesday at 5 pm. The council meeting proper, including Courtesy of the Floor, is at 7.
ReplyDeleteMM, I know my comments are unexceptable since the whole damm thing, I havnt caught nonot even one starving stocked native trout. This is not only in the parkway but many of the waterways that has been infected!
ReplyDelete