Prior to the current administration, the parking lot along Cedar Creek behind the swimming pool was closed off when flooding was anticipated. The new administration felt that gates sent a message of unwelcomeness, and they were ordered removed from various locations throughout the park system. These gates had been installed over the years to prevent damage from flooding, or to allow for proper snow removal during winter storms.
When I first learned of their removal last year, I was offended by the waste of infrastructure. Now I realize that it is actually a public safety issue.
This blog in the past has been critical of the Tuerk Administration's wokeness and obsession with being inclusive. While I have become less critical about the mayor's agenda, I will not hesitate to speak out when appropriate.
The flooded car shown above belonged to a couple who decided to take a long stroll in the rain. Unfortunately the creek rose faster than their return walk, but at least they didn't feel unwelcome.
reprinted from July of 2023
ADDENDUM JULY 24, 2024:Allentown's parks are being trashed from both in and out of towners. As the city struggles with solutions to this deluge, one suggestion was to erect gates at the parks which could be closed off. Not mentioned in the debate, or the subsequent articles about it in the Morning Call, was that there were gates which were removed. We learn now that new gates will cost $five thousand each. I have been advocating for the parks for the last fifty years, and reporting on such since this blog's creation in 2007.
This is what an idiocracy looks like. The idiocy seems to be exactly what the voters want. We can see this in who is elected to run the city.
ReplyDeleteI’d post a comment regarding the parks but since it’s got virtually zero chance of publication I believe I’ll take the dogs out briefly, do a little reading and then try and get a little more sleep.
ReplyDeletePeace out,
MJ Adams
Mr. Adams, as a former insider living in a park house and being on city commissions, and now an outsider, your signed insights are always welcome here.
DeleteI am confused by this comment. Have comments by Mr. Adam’s not been published in the past?
DeleteI believe that I saw a comment from him just recently on another post, and obviously the one above today.
Maybe there’s more that I don’t know but Mr Adams’ insinuation that he’s being censored seems unfair, at least in regards to this blog.
My comment policy is pretty straight forward, as described next to the comment box. I do not print short replies, such as I agree, well said, Amen, etc.
DeleteI am confused. Why would the city build Cedar Beach Pool in the middle of a flood zone ? Was the flooding the reason why the pool had to be rebuilt several years ago due to damage? Why isn't the flooding issue being adressed so the damage to the pool and the other facilities there won't be destroyed by future flooding ?
ReplyDeleteBefore the pool in the early 1950's, the swimming was in a sand bottom pond, fed by the creek. The pool rebuilding and redesign was not from flood damage, but from being 70 years old. The pool has seldom flooded when the creek overflows. Several years ago the creek berm was heightened.
DeleteI know you often talk about the condition of the WPA structures in the Lehigh Parkway, but I was in the Rose Garden yesterday and was appalled by the condition of the ponds there.
ReplyDeleteSome of the stones in the creek protecting where the water is diverted and enters the upper pond were in the creek; at least one of the rocks lining the pond had been broken off and fallen (or been pushed) into the pond; and the cement was failing and cracked on the rocks lining the small stream where the lower pond empties back into the creek.
In addition, there are sunken areas in the grass around that area of the lower pond. That makes me think that water could be leaking into the ground from the pond and causing the small sinkholes.
What’s most alarming about this is that the Rose Garden is one of the City’s premier parks and its unique features need proper maintenance. In addition, the Parks Department building - where I believe the Park Director works every day - is inside that park and only a short walk from the features I describe above.
If this is the level of care that a park right under their noses gets, that doesn’t bode well for the rest of our parks.
Those ponds were rebuilt just about 13 years ago, since they were first created. Unfortunately, the contractor didn't do a great job. He undermined the existing walls when the ponds were emptied and dredged. The weeds growing in the cracks should be removed so that their roots don't continue doing damage. I agree that they should be repaired and patch repointed. Furthermore, the first pond should be treated for the algae. I will be addressing the park infrastructure issues in forthcoming posts.
Delete7:41 am here again.
DeleteI only took one loop around the park last night, and as noted I took the part of the path that went by the ponds.
How does the actual Rose Garden itself look? I believe in an article earlier this year it was mentioned that the park employee who had taken care of the gardens for decades was gone, and there was some late (or non-existent) planting.
Signed
Rose Garden Rager
Yes, the man who took care of the garden(s) for many years retired. Although the garden got a late start this year, his replacement seems very conscientious. The rose section is pretty much over for the season, and the old fashion looks fine.
DeleteAfter having to deal with repeated pool damage from flooding, in the 1980's the Director of Parks would routinely advise that if the City ever got the opportunity to rebuild Cedar Beach Pool, it should build it up nearer to Hamilton Blvd. out of the flood plane. When the opportunity to rebuild the pool did arise, the mayor had by then pushed out most institutional knowledge in favor of sycophants and proceeded to foolishly spent millions to build the new pool in the flood plane again.
ReplyDeleteHis ambitious park director at the time did have a plan for a relocated pool, but it was a huge water park, almost amusement park in scale, which would have extended right up to Hamilton Blvd. It was wisely rejected. The rebuilt pool ended up with three contractors, and well could have been added to the FBI list if more indictments were sought at the time.
DeleteM8ke, 807 makes a comment about the flood plain, didn't the feds want the whole of allentowns flood plain rewritten because of development. This was under your favorite administration that we are still currently under fed ed lite.
ReplyDelete