When Irene stormed through Cedar Park, she knocked down and broke a number of the old willow trees. The sight of these magnificent trees along the creek banks, is the view-shed cherished by us proponents of the historical park system. 
As a boy in 1955, I remember the same damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Diane. Many of the remaining willows are now about 75 years old. Although they held the creek banks together for three generations, they have lost favor to riparian buffers.
It's nice to sit by the bank under a willow tree and watch the ducks swim by. Hopefully, somewhere along the banks of the Little Lehigh and Cedar Creek, there is still some open space for a few new weeping willows.
please click on photos to enlarge
photos by molovinsky
reprinted from September of 2011
ADDENDUM AUGUST 13, 2024:The bench shown above has been removed many years ago. Today the creek bank is so overgrown, it would provide no view anyway. While I might have a reputation for forthrightness not sought by the Parknership, I will continue my campaign for inclusion on their board. While I don't need the item on my resumé, there is a need for a traditional park system advocate. The Parknership is financed by Harry Trexler's vision almost a hundred years ago. That vision hired Meehan Associates (Landscape Architects) in 1928 to design our park system. More should remain of that vision of the parks than just a statue at the top of Trexler Park.
Maybe it's time someone checked his will and his directions for the disbursement of his trust. Seems to me the Trexler Trust is throwing his funds at everything but our city parks.If the current trust members are violating the terms of the trust steps could be taken to address that.
ReplyDeleteAs an alternative media I print your comment...However, I recall the court in the mid 1980's helping the Trust loosen their guidelines from Trexler's will, so that they could do away with the greenhouse in Trexler Park.
DeleteWow! That was 40 years ago, hard to believe, this said, taking down the greenhouse was at least park related. The Trexler Trust is now giving sizable grants to foundations that have zero to do with the city parks.
DeletePawlowski, puffy little man that he is, kicked sand in the face of the Trust, and they let him get away with it. That isn’t an opinion, that’s a fact.
ReplyDeleteThe trust seems to be very amenable to woke causes as well.
DeleteThe Trust is comprised of five people, and its attitude is a reflection of their inclinations. During Pawlowski's early terms, three of the then members were part of Pawlowski's kitchen cabinet, and would meet with him every Saturday morning. Politics aside, inclinations aside, Allentown is fortunate to have the Trexler Trust.
DeleteWe have been,but now that they fund non profits that serve as magnets for the regions homeless, the downside could make them a negative. The risk of us becoming another urban area with homeless encampments on every public space is not far fetched. When that happens, and they are funding the advocates, they will have enabled the final nail in the coffin.
DeleteLiberals destroy everything they touch. Parks, City of Allentown, the ASD.
ReplyDeleteI reluctantly print your comment, it is so tired. Conservatives/Republicans should consider either relocating, or finding more viable candidates. No reply would be appreciated.
DeleteRegarding the Parknership, what makes you think you’ve been rejected from consideration for their board?
ReplyDeleteLast I heard they were still accepting applications.
Have they already announced some of the appointments? If so, who is on so far?
RGR
My post tomorrow addresses your question
DeleteAfter decades of seeing how the City does things, and reading this blog, I may finally start appreciating why programs move on the way they do. How many structures, parks, equipment, etc. have deteriorated over the years? (Lots.) What’s the preferred means of renewing such? (Grants.) How do you get grants? (Demonstrate desperate need.) What puts structures, parks, equipment, etc. in desperate need of repair? (Catastrophe, abuse, neglect, or other.) What if there’s no catastrophe? (Well, just pick one of the others, wait for nature to take its course, and someone else will pick up the tab.) If this is beyond reason, please educate. If reasonable, may explain why outliers who advocate prudent maintenance may be considered undesirable. I looked at Bogert’s Bridge kind of closely last week, and was shocked at the peeling paint on the sheathing. What an improvement a scraping and (20 gallons?? of) paint would be. But the big funding for the rehab is on the way. Is it cheaper for one party or another to let the wood planking go until then?
ReplyDelete