When Harry Trexler commissioned Frank Meehan of Philadelphia to design the Allentown parks, Meehan was considered the leading landscape architect in America. It was because of Meehan that Allentown was shovel ready when the WPA started in the mid 1930's. It was because of Meehan that our park system became the envy of cities everywhere.
Throughout the park system he planted Weeping Willows thirty feet apart along the creeks. Their shallow, spreading root system provided the Little Lehigh, Cedar and Jordan Creeks erosion protection for almost a century. It provided both fish and fisherman beauty and shade along the creek banks.
Move ahead seventy five years, and in 2006 the from out of town new mayor Pawlowski combined the park and recreation departments, and hired a recreation major for department head. The new director turned over many park management decisions to the Wildlands Conservancy. The Wildlands introduced riparian buffers, even though the storm sewer system is piped directly into the creeks. As the Willows neared their lifespan and started dying out, they were not replaced. Rather, other trees were planted, back from the creeks, doubling down on the buffer concept.
We now realize that the creek banks are eroding, and that the buffers are incubators for invasive species. It is now the department's intention to seek outside consultants for recommendations. Rather than go outside again for advice, they should go back in history...Weeping Willows should be again planted along the banks. HOWEVER, the department REJECTS this suggestion, because willows are not indigenous.
When I was a boy I lived above Lehigh Parkway in Little Lehigh Manor. My father's uncle worked for the park department cutting the grass along the creek. I'm saddened by the state of the creek banks, and the stubbornness of the city to not see the best solution.
Many of the original Willow trees have died, and the remaining ones are on their last legs.
I remember those weeping willows all along Cedar Beach when we first moved to Allentown in 1964. They were so beautiful! We had a large fully mature weeping willow in our backyard on North 24th Street in Allentown. I loved how it looked from my bedroom window!
ReplyDeleteI have been away from Allentown for over 40 years, but have traveled back often to visit relatives and friends. I have always loved the parkway and have many fond memories of growing up there. If I lived back there, I would be acting like a vigilante. Taking my weed eater to the park and taking out as much of the riparian barriers as I could and piece by piece, taking the rubble from the Robin Hood bridge piers and dropping them off at City Hall. Imagine what a hundred people could accomplish in a single day. Maybe it’s time for all who love the parks to mobilize and take back what belongs to them. My apologies for sounding like an activist, but sometimes you need to fight for what you love.
ReplyDeleteANONYMOUS@7:20, I have been fighting for the traditional park system for two decades. I think that it helps the effort by being open about it and using my name.
ReplyDeleteOff topic from the Weeping Willow trees, but still park related:
ReplyDeleteYesterday I went for a walk in Trexler Park. It was a beautiful evening, and I was one among many who were there. There were families with small children, dog walkers, joggers, and people just enjoying a leisurely walk. Unfortunately, there were also a number of bikers, and this is creating a dangerous situation.
The bikers are sometimes in the walker lane, and walkers are often in the bike lane. This is unavoidable in many cases when the park is full just because of the volume of people. Kids and dogs generally have no concern or knowledge about what lane they're in (or should be in), which is to be expected. Making matters worse, many bikers and walkers are wearing ear buds and not able to hear anyone coming up behind them. Sometimes the bikers are small children just learning to ride.
The issue is that many of the adult bikers appear to believe they're at the Velodrome, weaving in and out of walkers and bikers alike. There is a very large speed differential between the bikers and walkers, and even between bikers and other bikers (especially kids). This is a recipe for disaster.
It wasn't too long ago that a walker was killed at Trexler Park after being hit by a bike rider. And that was when bikes were restricted to certain days in the park. City Council decided to remove those restrictions several years ago.
I have no idea if the City was sued by the person killed at Trexler, but I would be willing to bet they will be if there is another serious injury or death. It's not a question of IF such an accident will happen again, but WHEN it will happen.
City Hall and the Trexler Trust have to be aware of what's going on, but seem ok with it. But they (and the taxpayers) will ultimately pay for them ignoring the problem.
You are completing correct that the bikers create a hazard and should be removed. I rarely use that park for that reason. I also walk with a friend who is nearly blind and won’t expose her to this risk.
Deleteanon@ 10:40: I could not agree with you more! add the aging with hearing impairment to those endangered by the cyclists.
ReplyDeleteSpent summers with grandparents and went to Jordan Park everyday to baseball games with grandpa and swimming. The weeping willows were beautiful. But, today it seems all about destruction and we can make it better than what works. 😔
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