Fans of the Allentown park system see that the willows are in their last years. Planted in the mid 1930's, they have served both the parks and citizens well. Harry Trexler commissioned the leading landscape architect of his era to design the parks. Meehan Associates of Philadelphia specified that willow trees be planted thirty feet apart along the creeks. The shallow, extensive root system of the Willows prevented erosion, and provided shade for the creeks and citizens.
Riparian buffers have become fashionable in current ecological circles. Their intent is to filter out nitrogen from lawn fertilizer entering streams. They were instituted in Allentown parks in 2006 on that false pretense, and seen by the park department as a way to also reduce mowing. However, in Allentown the reality is different. The storm water system is piped directly into the creeks, under these buffers. Worse, the buffers incubated invasive species, whose removal is much more labor intensive than simply mowing the grass. The park department is now realizing that the buffers are not Allentown park appropriate.
I recently suggested to a park official that new willows start being planted along the creeks. The reply was that willows are not indigenous, that's another new ecological buzz term. Willows however remain recommended for bank erosion.
The parks are not indigenous, nor are the swimming pools or the basketball courts. The willows do however provide erosion control, are not invasive, provide shade for both people and fish, and are beautiful to boot... Not a bad idea Mr. Meehan had back in the 1930's.
I think that the park department need remember that they are managing parks, not indigenous species conservation districts. More important is that these parks are for people to enjoy. A child playing by a creek bank is an experience now lost from Allentown, that we need to get back.
It’s kind of funny if the willows are being rejected because they’re not indigenous.
ReplyDeleteIf only the same standard applied to many of the city’s recent park directors and mayors.
You are right on the bullseye on this. They already screwed up Trexler park and now Cedar Beach.
ReplyDeleteWholeheartedly agree. The willows were gorgeous and served a purpose. Miss wading in the creek, too.
ReplyDeleteI love Allentown’s parks, Creeks, Streams and especially it’s Weeping Willows.
ReplyDeleteI used to love the trees in the parkway as a child in the 70s. It's a shame the park's administration know nothing about thier job
ReplyDeletechris@6:54: I'm an advocate for what i call the traditional park system. i believe that system, including the willows, makes for a most beautiful and useful park. however, i do believe that the park's administration does have expertise, the issue is priorities.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the fact that people trying to reach the stream are now endangered by having to walk through tick infested grasses.
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