Allentown had one of the finest park systems in the United States, but one national fad after another has diminished it.
After the Park and Recreation departments were combined, former mayor Ed Pawlowski hired a succession of recreation trained directors, who in turn farmed out park policy to the Wildlands Conservancy. The Conservancy, like many of our other local sacred cows, have more influence than expertise, and promote trendy fads, not always site appropriate.
While the banks of our park streams were secured with Weeping Willows, rather than replace the aging willows, the Conservancy pushed for Riparian Buffers. The buffers become infested with invasive species which have to be cut down several time a season. Several years ago Allentown was warned by the DEP about Poison Hemlock infecting our drinking water supply from the Little Lehigh. Before the downside of these buffers were fully realized by the park department, all the new trees were planted out away from the creeks, only complicating the grass mowing. In the meantime, our citizens are cut off from both access and beauty of the creeks.
The Wildlands Conservancy, also in alignment with national trends, demolished two important dams on the Little Lehigh. After demolishing the Fish Hatchery Dam, that facility suffered the biggest fish loss in its history from flooding. Demolishing the Robin Hood Bridge Dam has despoiled the beautiful bridge piers and that immediate area, which formally was the pride of the park system.
I take great pride in having fought against all the above violations by the Conservancy. While I lost those battles in Allentown, I was able to help save Wehr's Dam in Covered Bridge Park from their schemes.
What brings me back to the parks today* is the announcement that Allentown has secured a grant to continue its plan to connect the parks with a trail. While the promotion states that the Trail Network is for walkers and cyclists, reality is very much different. As a walker, I can tell you that any of the Allentown parks is long enough...The connection is really for the cyclists. Any walker in the park will tell you that it's frightening and dangerous when a cyclist zooms by you.
As a longtime advocate for the parks, I could show the city where this grant money could be much better spent in restoring neglected existing features in our parks. We do not need to connect the neglect, but rather address and save our separate parks.
Decades ago picture postcards of our park system would be sent across the country. Now-a-days. those images are nostalgic reminders of what we've lost.
1955 picture postcard of Lehigh Parkway, before being despoiled
*Over the weekend Mayor Tuerk admired the creek bank in Lehigh Parkway. He should realize that by mid-summer that bank will be hidden with a 6' tall weed wall under current park policy. Also over the weekend state representative Pete Schweyer announced Allentown was awarded the grant to connect the parks. He should realize that we would be better off restoring the parks, instead of connecting them.
What is the common thread "Liberal Mentality" creating issues to justify their existence---key word Natural those parks were naturally created by the tree's and vegetation that grew fertilized by the duck and gesse population in most of them? all that was manicure cutting? Until those change the world do gooders who have nothing better to do then mess with natural beaty and the effects it promotes---they can make it better--common sense has left the room!
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time a Pete Schweyer was in touch with reality or what Allentown really needed? As a city councilman, he voted for every tax hike and bad idea Ed Pawlowski came up with.
ReplyDeleteSchweyer’s decisions have always been about what is the most beneficial HIS political future, not Allentown’s.
It wouldn’t be bad if cyclists realized that they need to share the road/trail and don’t own it.
ReplyDeleteToo many ride two or more abreast and at speeds as if they’re at the Velodrome. That doesn’t mix well with kids, pets, seniors or walkers in general.
It’s gotten worse since the state amended road laws to give bikers more protections there. Since then, many cyclist seem to want to put auto drivers in their places, with a mentality similar to Allentown’s school children who mindlessly step into crosswalks knowing they have the right-of-way.
Cyclists now seem to want to have it both ways - being treated as equals to vehicles on the roads but not having the same responsibilities, particularly on trails and walkways. That attitude needs to change, and cyclists need to follow proper etiquette there.
If a trail is empty, enjoy the ride as you wish. But if there are others there, slow down to a crawl and give a wide berth (where possible).
It’s not the fault of kids, pets or walkers if they step out in front of you and you’re surprised while you’re flying along. It’s your responsibility to keep yourself and your bike I’m under control. At all times.
I was at Trexler Park around 1995 I believe when a cyclist hit a pedestrian and killed him. Bad idea mixing the two.
ReplyDeleteI am old enough to remember many trips by car from my then western Allentown home to New York City using Route 22. From the Plainfields onward, neighborhood park areas were dirty and unkempt. My vision of those spaces made me think “sadly urbanized” by uncaring residents. Nothing at all like I knew living and enjoying my Allentown public spaces.
ReplyDeleteFrom Irving Park through the Cedar Beach areas, we in Allentown enjoyed superior outdoor living spaces provided by our city leaders and taxpayers. A true sense of pride in my community was felt.
And now, that shabby New York metropolitan area has come to us. All the same negative visions of uncaring living and behavioral decline are here. Your civic officials behaving powerless and blind to it all.
Yes, those riparian buffers are uninviting, hideous, unnecessary in key places, and send a highly negative image of how you live . . . right smack in the face!
When will bicyclists have to pass a test for basic road knowledge and be licensed? Carry liability insurance if they hit anyone? Have their bicycles safety inspected for road worthiness ? Made to display a cycle license?
ReplyDeleteMotorcyclists need to.
When bicyclists have to go possess and pay the fees that motor vehicle and motorcyclists require, perhaps they will be treated as equals.
Excellent piece, MM. I be seen the park decompose over my 40 years in Allentown. I worry that the beauty of the original design is lost every time I see the weeds in the rubble at the piers of the Robin Hood Bridge. The park was never “natural,” it was nature maintained by humans. The vistas were designed, they didn’t occur naturally. They were meant to be maintained, not left to rot naturally.
ReplyDeleteWe must move towards the vision of a 15 minute city, bicycles will be an integral component of that greater good the existing paths should be widened to accommodate high speed cycling and protective helmets and armor offered to the pedestrians who want it for safety from collisions.
ReplyDelete