Local noted photographer Hub Willson took the extra cute capture shown above in 2010, at a Rose Garden pond. In the last few years such a photograph would not have been possible, no ducklings survived the grass mowing.
Readers may recall that last year, and in the recent preceding years, I tried to prevent that carnage here on this blog. Last year, in addition to the park leadership, I even contacted Mayor and Mrs. Tuerk, all to no avail.
The problem is the fake riparian zones. The park department feels that they must mow in the spring to curtail the invasive species. Although they claimed to look for nests before mowing, that was like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. If they would keep it mowed, as they did in 2010, the ducks would still find suitable spots for their nests. However, when they don't mow during mating season, then mow after the nests are built, the season's ducklings are destroyed.
The park department either needs to keep the banks mowed on a regular schedule, or wait to mow after the ducks have left the nest. At that point the grass would be quite high, and it would involve more machinery and labor.
The park department realizes that because the storm water system is piped under the buffer, directly into the creek, that the buffer doesn't really buffer. However, it does provide an excuse to cut back somewhat on the mowing budget. However, the invasive species thrive along the uncut banks, especially Poison Hemlock. Late last summer the park department was mandated to cut the banks, because the invasive situation was so out of hand.
The time has come for the department to return to regular cutting of the banks, as they do with the meadows. Ironically, now it will be more costly, because they planted the new trees along what they hoped would be the outer buffer line. Nevertheless, the health of the park and the ducklings demand it.
Mike, you are going about improving the parks all wrong. If you have influence, get things done, form an NGO, get government funding, contribute money to the controlling party, then act as a campaign arm for them every election cycle. That's how people get things done in Allentown.
ReplyDeleteCall it the "Allentown Duckland's Conservancy", pay off some retired expert to label the ducks a "native species, and find people with blue hair and nose rings to be your front people.
ReplyDeleteThose riparian buffers are absurd. A defacing of what was once a pretty, well-kept park system.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt in my mind the true objective was to lessen the workload of the park’s maintenance crew. It was the water’s edge that created all the frustration because you couldn’t race through the park surfaces using only tractor pulled mowers.
What that riparian decision created was the image of a failed Allentown municipality. A city unable to afford to keep its house clean, to pick-up its litter, so to speak, and to show pride in the quality of life its city provides.
I would wager there is more uncut grass in Lehigh Parkway than areas which are properly maintained. The side of the parkway entered from 24th Street is not maintained well, if at all. The grass looks like uncut hay. However on the other side of the creek, the police academy grass is well maintained.
DeleteAlso how much attention is paid to the north side of the Parkway. It appears the little lehigh, from the Robin Hood Bridge east and north as it curves is looking very natural with its weeds along the banks, and also long grass all the way to the old boat dock area. With graffiti panted on the bridge to Martin Luther King blvd.
One question.... How was the City able to do it in the past??? I spent many hours in the Parkway, and it was manicured, circa 1968 to 1971. It seems the country, as a whole, can't do a DAMN THING that was once the rule... and is NOW the exception!!! Why do we continue to pay for and reward piss-poor performance???
ReplyDeleteAnd 2 older guys with a tractor and gang mower kept it looking like a picture
DeleteYES!!!!... and those two old overweight guys actually went to work and WORKED... what a concept... do your job and do it well... but I digress... (I was anon 5:39)
DeleteNot too mention all employees have union and retirement. Mike bring back Mr. Solt as a expert on the allentown park systems. I here he is still widdling wood in northampton somewhere. Turning all wood into artwork being driftwood or commisioned specialty wood. Some retirees from the once All American City take up heritage that goes back before city life was a big grant administrative farce. Another for instance teaching inner city youth to fish with different types of man made lures that entertained before the mindless machines that all now have in there hands too gaze into?
ReplyDelete