Jul 16, 2020
A Park Problem In Allentown
reprinted from May of 2018
Ray O'Connell invited me to his office this week to talk about problems with the WPA structures in the park system. My invitation was a long time coming.
In 2009, I started conducting a series of meetings at the Allentown Library, to inform the public about the deteriorating condition of the WPA structures. In subsequent years, I organized a group effort to unearth the Boat Landing, which was buried decades earlier by a former park director. I convinced the former water shed director to unearth the Spring Pond, which was allowed to become overgrown. I unsuccessfully attempted to save the miniature dam, which was built to complement the Robin Hood Bridge in 1941. The city foolishly allowed the Wildlands Conservancy to destroy this charming accent. I conducted tours of the Parkway, both public and private.
This week I proposed to Mayor O'Connell that the park department simply spend $25 thousand each season(out of their $3 million dollar annual budget), and have one structure repointed. Two years ago, Karen El-Chaar from Friends Of The Parks, secured a grant through the Trexler Trust for $25 thousand. With that modest amount she had the steps repointed at Fountain Park. El-Chaar attended my meetings years ago, and became interested in the cause. Unfortunately, the city government works in a much more bureaucratic fashion. Also in attendance this week was park department foreman Rick Holtzman, who elaborated on the process. Work is preceded by an engineering study, which can end up costing as much as the work. Bids are then put out, and responding stone masons must be bonded in order to be eligible to bid. Consequently, very few contractors bother to bid, and the prices are much, much higher than they need be. However, that is Mr. Holtzman's dilemma.... My mission is to point out what needs to be done, and publicize the progress, or lack thereof.
For over a year I have been lobbying for the landings to be repaired on the double stairwell in Lehigh Parkway. If these landings are not repaired this season, the steps themselves will be jeopardized.
I appreciated Mayor O'Connell's time. The park department, despite the bidding process, is managing to open a dog park and build a skateboard park. Several years ago they managed to spend over $1.5 million buying two unnecessary new parcels. Since I started advocating for the WPA over a decade ago, the park department has built numerous new features, and spend many $millions of dollars doing so. In all those years they have not done one thing for the WPA. They rebuilt part of the Parkway wall, but only after it fell down from neglect, closing the park entrance. It is now time that they start maintaining the structures which first made this city's park system a destination.
reprinted from from May of 2018
UPDATE JULY 16, 2020: The remainder of the entrance wall, including the double stairwell, is in the process of being repointed, courtesy of the Trexler Trust. Although the deteriorated landings are not included in the specifications, I am hopeful that Allentown/Trexler Trust will include them.
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Congratulations Mike!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy something is finally being done. I hope they do include the steps and landings. It's a beautiful structure. I don't understand why so little pride seems to be taken in the existing architectural details of our parks.
ReplyDeleteParkway was always one of my favorite destinations to go spend many weekends out there but I never spent time at the beginning of the park It was always up by Robin Hood but I admire what you're doing I wish you the best of luck and hope Allentown gets his act together and makes their parks the best around
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Allentown all my life and always appreciated the architecture of these structures. If nothing else they should be maintained out of respect for the workers who did such a fine job in building them decades ago. We have been left with a treasure from past generations and should do our best to preserve them to keep our city special and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me that Bethlehem has chosen to take care of its historic buildings and WPA structures and has used them to market the town as a destination. The waterfall in Monocacy Park is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteYet Allentown either outright destroys or loses their structures to neglect. It's so shortsighted.
I say enjoy the victory while you can, since I don't see anyone in City Hall with the vision to put a priority on long-term preservation.
Molovinsky for Mayor?
Congrats on your battle victory and hope you persevere in the war.
ReplyDeletegreat job!!!
ReplyDeleten regards to the congrats, I'd like to think that my efforts over the years contributed to the current project, but in any case I'm happy to see the work being done.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a shame they don’t want to keep that part of history alive ! They have been tearing down a lot of the WPA work !! Look at Jordan park ! The ripped down the bathrooms ! The drinking fountain ! The bridge dam acres the creek to get over to the picnic pavilion !!., so why should they want to save the rest of it !., seems like all the city officials want to do is destroy the city !! It makes me sad that the city I was born and raised in has chosen to do this to our history ! My grandfather was one of the stonemasons that worked for the WPA !!
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