Kingdom At Stevens

On Saturday afternoon, Stevens Park, a large center city playground, teemed with festivity. As the parents and older kids swayed to the Latin beat from a live band, children at the other side were entertained with craft activities. In between, large stands provided free hot food. The event was sponsored by Kingdom Life Family Center, an outreach ministry based in Orefield. After leaving the park, I decided to visit some merchants who are relocating to 7th Street from Hamilton. On 7th, I encountered the Pastor of the Ministry, Tony Adamo. It is his hope to secure a storefront in that vicinity, and establish a full time presence in Allentown. That would be a blessing.

above reprinted from November of 2011

My apologies for an earlier post where I acted so haughty about Stevens Park. Ive been sick the past couple weeks. That being said had family over today and bragged about the new park. Took my 2 yr old and a couple other toddlers with parents. Trash everywhere! Dirty needles...I picked up 6 heroin used bags. I was horrified! We left, kids in tears. Me on the verge! I went later with husband and cleaned it up. Ive been so excited for the young neighborhood kids....it will soon just get totally trashed. And Im moving......

The above comment appeared on a community facebook page. I have redacted the writers name. The Morning Call did a pictorial spread on the the renovated park, but of course the women above gives us an actual nitty gritty experience from visiting the park. Despite the reality of who will congregate there after hours, and whatever nefarious activity that may take place, it is important to provide attractive parks within the urban center for children.   However,  the nature of the neighborhood requires that the park receive extra cleanup and surveillance.

 Allow me to commend the Parks Department on a renovation well done.

photocredit: The Morning Call/Harry Fisher

above reprinted from June of 2017

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2, 2019:  This past weekend the Morning Call had an article about a Community Day at Stevens Park, sponsored by several community groups. Earlier that morning,  police investigated shots being fired in the park.  Although the article's heading was about reclaiming the park, as you can see from my older posts above,  reclaiming the park is actually an on going process. A new reporter covers new community activists, optimistic that they have solutions to a problem which has been ongoing for a decade before them.  As I wrote in 2017, the location of the park (6th and Tilghman) requires an ongoing police presence, no less than 24 hours a day.