I showed park director Mikowychok the abandoned island and the boat landing, things that he never saw before, or even knew existed. I found his indifference to the demise of these wonderful constructions astounding. When I criticized the tall thin weed wall blocking the entire creek view, he replied that a row of single tall weeds was better than none. He actually told Mota that the creek was more enticing when you could only get a glimpse of it here and there. It made me think of an old arcade peep show machine. It's too bad that the city hired another lobbyist for the Wildlands Conservancy as Park Director, instead of a defender of our unique park system, however, it's no surprise. Both the out of town park directors were hired by the same out of town city manager. All three of them, four including the mayor, have no knowledge or appreciation of the formerly nationally recognized park system, in the former All American City. Wildlands was spouting voodoo science. They actually said that there's no fecal count in the creek, despite my photographs of creek shores filled with toilet paper. In order for them to harvest the current grant they must demolish the dam by the end of September. From the grant they also harvest administrative fees. The dam dates from the early 1940's, and has delighted five generations with its sight and sound. The hard press is on City Council to approve this latest destruction with virtually no deliberation. I ask those who appreciate beauty and ambience to help me save our history.
UPDATE: The post above is reprinted from August 17, 2013. John Mikowychok, the new park director referred to above, has resigned. Less than three months after being hired, Mikowychok recommended to City Council that the Wildlands Conservancy be allowed to destroy two picturesque historic dams on the Little Lehigh. The Wildlands Conservancy deposited the demolished WPA Robin Hood Dam rubble around the Robin Hood Bridge, ruining the visual effect of the iconic stone piers. The demolished Trout Nursery Dam contributed to the recent record fish kill. We have lost 75 years of history to a person who was here for 15 months. I will have more to say about park directors with no knowledge of the park system and the Wildlands Conservancy's self serving agenda in subsequent posts. Let us hope that South Whitehall has more respect for Wehr's Dam and its history.
above reprinted from September of 2014*
UPDATE MARCH 11, 2022: As it turned out South Whitehall had no more respect for Wehr's Dam, and it only still stands because of myself, a couple other defenders and the referendum. Because of back channel deception between the Wildlands Conservancy and their connections in Harrisburg, it will now cost their taxpayers over ten times more to repair the dam than necessary. Although I documented the entire conspiracy to the Morning Call, rather than print the real story, they published a whitewash of the events this past summer.
Shown in the picture above from 2013, the Wildlands Conservancy is scattering the dam's rubble around the Robin Hood Bridge piers. Almost nine years after the destruction of the Robin Hood Dam, let's hope that we can prevail upon the city to remove that rubble from the bridge piers, and at least restore that structure to its intended design.
We deserve to see that beauty again.
*the posts in 2013 and 2014 did not include the above photo
I would love to see the bridge piers returned to their original state, but does anyone remember what ongoing maintenance needed to be done to the bridge piers before the Wildlands dumped their rubble around them? I'm assuming that there was some.
ReplyDeleteMany workers with years of knowledge have left the Parks Department during the time that the city's been run by out-of-towners, and I'm not sure that the new Mayor has long ties to the city either.
More importantly, I don't think that anyone knows what damage (if any) was done when the rubble was placed there. But should it be removed I still have ZERO confidence that there is anyone currently working for the city who can accurately assess the condition of the piers, or that the city would do what is necessary to properly maintain them.
I'm not saying that the rubble offers any real protection for the bridge piers, but if it does how can the city be trusted to take care of the bridge once the rubble is removed? The city can't even take care of the nearby wall and stairwell, and neither of those are subject to the constant flow of running water.
anon@10:08, the bridge piers and stonework were in good shape. Like everything else back then, when things were overbuilt. The entrance wall was undermined by the city paving over the culvert, which separated it from the roadway.
ReplyDeleteLike one of your readers has commented too allready, subdivided buildable lots are the future of Uncle Harry's gift. I can remember when in the past a administration was trying to pitch the Jordan Park for old folks high rise sale.
ReplyDeleteanon@1:50, Pawlowski purchased two parcels for new parks from the same developer. One is a Basin & Union Streets. The other the old rendering plant site on MLK. Both are brownfields. Both of these parcels should be sold, even at a loss, because he grossly overpaid. One more deal he should have been indicted for.
ReplyDelete