This week I decided to go back to school, at least to hang outside of Dieruff. Upon re-evaluation, I must give my previous report on the WPA steps at Irving Park a failing grade. Besides myself, also failing would be Mayor Pawlowski, Park Director Weitzel and City Council President Michael D'Amore. Any lessons given about the WPA Steps at Irving Park better be given in the next couple years; after that they will be gone. We are soon approaching the point where the City will declare the cost of repair is cost prohibitive; Unless that is their current plan! As reported in the previous post's comments, one set of steps has already been removed by the City. All the remaining steps are in a state of disrepair. Shown above are the steps on Washington Street, between Jerome and Irving Streets. WPA Support Group member Mark Thomas prepared comprehensive documentation on the remaining masonry structures at Irving Park.
UPDATE: Mark Thomas raises the question as to whether these steps are indeed WPA. They appear to be the same vintage and colorization of the pool bathhouse, dated 1941. In any regard, the steps are clearly historic, and this group will campaign for their preservation.
please click on photo
above reprinted from September of 2011
ADDENDUM JULY 30, 2024:The first repost on this topic appeared on July 18, and I apologize for the delay on this follow-up. In my bid to be included on the new Parknership board, I was being softer and trying to be diplomatic with my park posts. However, after reading reports of weekend chaos at Canal Park and elsewhere in our park system, I resorted back to this blog's mission...report on that grit too harsh for our other polite media. Last week I outlined a number of innovations taken by the current administration which have come back to bite us. We apparentaly are now providing recreation for New Jersey in our parks. The Jersey shore was designed for tourists, the Allentown park system was meant for residents. Back in my day there was a designated park system police officer. It is becoming apparent that we need more police coverage in our parks. While that need may be seasonal, we need an enlarged force all year, for overall safety and quality of life issues throughout Allentown.
“Back in my day there was a designated park system police officer. It is becoming apparent that we need more police coverage in our parks.”
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, why was a park system police officer needed back in your day? Why and when did the city get rid of the position?
The reason I ask is that I’m continually amazed at how many of our problems in Allentown have been caused (or at least made worse) by City Hall getting away from what was done, avoiding what should be done, or even hiding from what needs to be done.
While I think a Designated Parks System Police Officer would help, it’s not enough on its own. Right now, the police make many trips each day into the Lehigh Parkway entrance on Jefferson Street on their way to the police academy. When a class is going through the academy, there are even cadets on the ground training in the parkway. Yet I’ve never seen a single officer actually citing anyone inside the parkway.
So either the Allentown Police are oblivious and have become desensitized to Quality of Life issues in the city, or they have been instructed by City Hall not to address any issues in the parks unless there is a complaint. It could be both.
Either way, those attitudes need to change. If they don’t address the problems even when there’s not a complaint they are subtly sending a message that bad behavior is acceptable and the problem is with the people who want the laws and regulations enforced.
That’s a dangerous approach, and the wrong message to send.
Maybe Promise Neighborhood could be given more grant money to start a Promise City Parks response team. Allentown Democrat Voter
ReplyDeleteThat would give them another opportunity for a new vehicle wrapped in the latest marketing material. Really, what does Promise Neighborhood do other than buy new vehicles?
DeleteCouncil refused to support requests last year for additional funding. The past 2 meetings, I believe 2 agencies reported that the mayor funded additional staff on several holidays and things went better. The admistration requested a reorganization of several positions but again council showed their stubbornness by not even reviewing the data. Instead of attacking outsiders for traveling to Allentown to enjoy themselves, consider investigating council and their limited perspective.
ReplyDelete12:06 - I’m not paying taxes for “outsiders” to come and take over my parks and “enjoy themselves”. They are there for residents to enjoy with their families.
DeleteIf a few outsiders visit the parks while respecting the rules and clean up after themselves, that’s fine. But that’s not the issue we’re talking about.
Also, please give me details on how certain positions were being reorganized. I’ve seen the positions the Mayor has added and proposed in the past. More of those will not solve anything.
keep voting these crooks in…! they only do what keeps them in power and want more power and your taxes, remember Covid they all got payed while you did not?!
ReplyDeletethey can get away with it remember they work for us period!
I’ll throw two zinc pennies at the park police and proper use issues, and tie them together. My knowledge of the park police comes from childhood memory, family discussions, and interaction with a former park policeman. Better sources exist than me. The park police were police, but not police. I thought there were more than one of them on the job at a time, but maybe only one on duty. Their police car(s) were marked “Park Police,” and they were visible multiple times on days my family picnicked in the Parkway. The commentary at the time among schoolmates was that the Park Police might get them for parking. :) I believe they were disbanded in the 1970’s and folded into the APD. However, since they didn’t start as full police, they were never allowed to gain full benefits of regular APD. I’m pretty sure they were not even allowed to be promoted. I remember in the ‘60s and ‘70s, at our family gatherings, I recall “Keep the radio down, or the Park Police will get us,” when you’re dealing with a shoebox sized transistor radio (paper magnetic speaker), or “Clean up, or the Park Police will chase us down” if neighboring patrons flagged down a patrol. Multiple trash cans were filled by the hundreds - yes, hundreds - of park goers. Much goes to self control, and perception of expected standards.
ReplyDeleteAllentown has been shooting itself in the foot for at least 50 years and will continue to do so. Our once VERY pristine park system was somewhat of a marvel to other cities and the other cities aspired to have such a beautiful park system. As we all know, it happened because one person cared enough to gift it to his hometown AND had the forethought to endear it with perpetual funding to maintain it as it was designed and constructed... what happened OR happens to this funding is certainly a mystery to this scribe.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, we did much more with way less, since the parks employees seemed to report to work... TO WORK!!! Now it's like Penndot... "men leaning on shovels next X number of miles"...
When I was a kid, more moons ago than I care to remember, things like Bogert's Bridge and house were maintained. The parks had the "designed in" manicured look. The same for the schools... the color was "ASD green" and not ASD "peeling paint"... the folks in charge took care of things. Not so much any more. Harry can't be a happy camper and I think the "trust" needs to "get on the stick"!!!