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.
ADDENDUM MAY 10, 2024:Cedar Park along the creek is once again infested with Poison Hemlock. It will always be that way until they start mowing the creek banks on a regular schedule. For the last five years or so, they control the Hemlock by cutting it down in late May, early June, just when the ducklings have hatched. I have no expectation that their schedule will change. Last season, not one duckling on the west side of the park survived. There were two families born on the Island in Muhlenberg Lake which fared better. If they would cut the creek banks along with the grass, the ducks would find safe places to nest. Instead, we have a stubborn park department, Poison Hemlock and ground up ducklings.
The Parks Department should know better, and I THOUGHT we had more competent park directors with a better understanding of the park history since the (out-of-towner) Greg Wetzel left.
ReplyDeleteSo either I’m overestimating the competency of subsequent park directors, or they’re being forced into bad policy decisions by incompetent mayors.
I like to believe that competence in the mayor’s office has improved since one was hauled off to jail, but maybe not. And I suppose it says a lot about Allentown that incompetence could still be the answer.
But if it’s not the mayor(s) fault, why haven’t they fixed the problem? Do they just not care?
The department seems comfortable with the fake buffer. I suppose that they think they're saving on the mowing cost, and the duckling slaughter is the price of their schedule. The long time foreman left the department for another job, and the new director is not native. The only thorn in their side is this blog, and they have grown used to that slight discomfort.
DeleteIt’s so disheartening. I feel like the park directors have lived off the greatness of what was installed a hundred years ago, while simultaneously allowing it to degrade.
DeleteAnd don’t get me started on what’s happened to the recreation programs, just in the last 25 years.
In around 2005 the parks and recreation departments were combined. During Pawlowski's terms he hired only directors with a recreation background. I concentrated on the consequences to the parks, especially the creeks and WPA. I assumed that the recreation programs were going well. They certainly invested in that side, with the skate board park and outdoor gym. I'd welcome a guest post on the recreation side, I don't have the necessary background.
DeleteMaybe I'm missing something, wouldn't the tall grasses along the stream provide perfect shelter for nesting ducks???? If the grasses were left intact, wouldn't the slaughter of ducklings be avoided?
ReplyDeleteYou'e missing a lot. It's not pretty grass, but Poison Hemlock bushes. Every year the park department cuts it down after the ducks lay the eggs, but before the ducklings leave the nest. They cut it down because it's an invasive species, which can even contaminate Allentown's water supply. If they keep the banks cut routinely when they cut the grass, the Hemlock would not take such firm hold and the ducks would find sheltered places to nest, as they always did previously. After the spring cutting and massacre, they again let it grow all summer, blocking view and access to the creek, before cutting it down again in the fall.
DeleteMy 2 favorite stories from Downtown this week:
ReplyDelete1. The local media is brimming with excitement and optimism over the opening of Max & Butters at the former Bell Hall as if it will not close down and become something else immediately after the favorable initial lease deal expires.
2. Allentown Parking Authority giving free parking in its garages for fans going to the Phantoms game on Saturday night. These affluent suburban hockey fans are coming from Philladelphia suburbs, western NJ and the Poconos and THEY get free parking??? They would be happy to pay double!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteSometimes there is no Rhym or Reason to what the Allentown Parking Authority does! But, don’t worry! They ‘ll be out there bright and early Monday morning writing you up. Too Bad all the Merchants Downtown won’t be able to capitalize on this situation.
(Sarcasm intended)
As far as the young lady and her venture into the restaurant business, at the former Bell Hall. I wish her luck, strength, and customers. She is a Brave Gal!
A former Downtown Business Owner