Poison Hemlock has invaded the riparian buffers along the creeks in Allentown Parks. These buffers are to accommodate the Wildlands Conservancy, which essentially dictates all park policy, except recreation, in both Allentown and South Whitehall. I suppose now the Wildlands can add pet killer to their dam buster credentials.
Allentown has been trying to control the problem by high rough cutting in spots where they see the hemlock. The real solution is to go back to the way the parks were designed, without riparian buffers.
Frankly, I haven't had much success in curtailing the Wildlands Conservancy's influence in these park decisions. So far, we lost two small historic dams, and the iconic Wehr's Dam is soon to go. We lost the view and access to the creeks in the park system, around which the parks were designed, by Harry Trexler's landscape architect. I have succeeded in creating a public record of these losses, and I will continue to speak out against how our parks are being compromised.
above reprinted from July of 2016
ADDENDUM JUNE 8, 2022: Park visitors may have noticed that the buffers have been cut down, except for a strip right along the creeks. The cutting was done because the buffers were full of invasive species. Ironically, the remaining strips are almost exclusively Poison Hemlock, the worst of the invasives. More ironically, the park department has taken to planting the new trees on the outer edge of the buffer (instead of along the creeks), so now cutting the grass is so much more labor intensive. Thank the Wildlands Conservancy for this bastardization of the park system. The solution is to cut down the remaining strip, and start cutting the grass to the creek's edge, as prescribed by the park architect in the 1930's. Furthermore, start planting willow trees along the creeks to combat erosion.
Where are the animal lovers? This is not acceptable! Why does the Wildlands Conservancy wield such power?
ReplyDeleteSharon@3:55: although it's not my want to dialogue in the comment section, your question is so good I make an exception. The Lehigh Valley has always worshipped sacred cows like the Wildlands. They give both people and corporations a convenient place to show that they "care" about the community...whether it's a contribution or sponsoring an event with them. Never mind that the Wildlands generalizes the science. For instance, in Allentown the storm water is piped directly into the creeks, under the buffers, so the buffers don't even buffer! I hate to reveal this, but because of the invasive species, and the park departments attempt to control them, another season of ducklings were ground up by the mowers...not one set of ducklings were seen in the rose garden ponds this summer. I believe that the park department has been pushing back against the Wildlands influence, but the time has come to bid the buffer nonsense goodbye.
ReplyDeleteI brought this issue up with Mayor Tuerk at a meeting last month. He replied that since it is not his area of expertise so he is accepting the guidance of people with degrees and knowledge in this area. In other words Wildlands Conservancy has a free hand in Allentown because of their political influence. It doesn't matter what General Trexler designed because the past and current administrations have no historical appreciation of Allentown. Their only goal is keeping it the welfare magnet it has become to fuel their progressive, socialistic agenda.
ReplyDeleteanon@5:43: I do expect the buffers to be done away with. The invasives have become too dominant, and removing them by hand is too labor intensive. In regard to "progressive" I agree that's a tag they proudly wear, but I reject the "socialistic" dig, because Allentown is now very firmly a D city, and my mission is the parks, not partisan politics. In that regard, political statements on this particular post will not be published, including those masquerading as concern for the parks.
ReplyDeleteThey may have forgot it is a Park system, designed for people. It was never a wild nature reserve. They have that on south mountain I believe.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor seems to take advice from "experts' without question or seeking alternative opinions from others with "expertise". This is the quality those who control the city seek when looking for candidates to fill our public offices.
ReplyDeleteMM - Assuming 5:43 is correct about the current mayor taking advice of the “experts”, that could be a larger problem than you think.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly has experts in his own parks department, so either he is ignoring them or the Parks Department has been filled with people who support the barriers.
Both options are concerning, although the latter one perhaps more so.
On a positive note, the Parks Department was out on Monday with a boat to put the fountain in the Union Terrace pond. Conditions are improved there already, between the circulation of the water and increase in water level from last night’s rainfall.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if the fountain was finally put in this year because of the recent discussion about it in your blog, but I hope that’s the case.
I’d like to think that someone from the Parks Department is reading, and we will soon see other park improvements in terms of trash cans, riparian buffers and masonry work.
anon@8:49, the barriers were introduced by the Wildlands as faux science, however, they were subsequently adopted by the park dept. because it resulted in less grass cutting/cost. The invasive problem is now recognized for the problem that it is, and hopefully once again the public will have both view and access to the creeks.
ReplyDeleteanon@8:57, this blog is monitored by the administration, various departments therein, and the morning call... none of which will so acknowledge, because of my frankness. However, I don't think that diplomacy would help my mission.