When the wall along the entrance road to Lehigh Parkway collapsed, the entrance had to be closed, until they could construct a new wall. The closure wasn't because of the missing upper portion acting as a guard rail, it was because of the lower portion, which was a retaining wall holding up the roadway itself. In the mid 1930's, the road was built by the WPA, by cutting into the side of a steep ravine leading down to the Little Lehigh Creek. It was essential to shore up the exposed side of the road with a wall.
Halfway down the road is the centerpiece we call the Double Stairway. Steps from two sides lead down from the road, to the bridle path and creek below. Although very architectural, it too is an elaborate retaining structure for the road. This architectural masterpiece is in structural jeopardy. Although the vertical walls are in decent shape, the problem is the landings, both at the top and down each set of stairs. These flats surfaces have degraded, and water is seeping down into the steps below, undermining the structure from within.
The Double Stairway was designed in 1928 by one of the leading landscape architects in the United States. He was commissioned to design this masterpiece by General Harry Trexler. The stock crash of 1929 and the Great Depression put off the construction until Roosevelt's New Deal in 1935, when the WPA utilized the blueprints.
Allentown could never afford to create such an icon now, nor can we afford to lose it from neglect.
reprinted periodically since 2010
UPDATE OCTOBER 25, 2019: Although the years have passed, and now I even have a good rapport with the current mayor and park director, the stair landings still have not been repaired and continue to deteriorate. Worse yet, it is my understanding that there is money in the budget for the repair, but it is being delayed to study the problem. The previous administration studied the entrance wall, until it collapsed. What these stairs need is less study and some immediate attention from a masonry contractor.
UPDATE AUGUST 6, 2021: The study was completed, and the Trexler Trust paid to have the vertical walls of the structure repointed, but the problem landings remain in their deteriorated condition. This is the equivalent of painting the walls of a house, while ignoring a leaking roof. On a positive note, the remaining entrance wall, from the double stairwell down to the Robin Hood Bridge, is being repointed. It is my hope that the park department has the sense to repair the landings. The landings and steps have further deteriorated, approaching being a hazard.
photocredit:molovinsky
photocredit:molovinsky
ADDENDUM AUGUST 16, 2024:As shown above, I have been campaigning for this structure for over fourteen years. I'm sorry to report that the landings have indeed started to sink down, and are starting to degrade the steps below. Once more I implore the Trust/City to immediately hire a mason to repair the landings. No study needed, no expert needed, but immediate work necessary.
Thinking about the new Parknership, which I believe is supposed to help with the WPA structures, and your interaction with the Mayor.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like even if you did get on the Board, you might be the only strong advocate for the WPA structures.
Are there any others who share your interest in preserving the traditional park system that might also be willing to apply for a board position? Even if you were to get on the board, you’d need other board members who think similarly.
It might take several like-minded people to apply, with the hope that some of them make it through.
Off topic, but related to trees and how the city looks.
ReplyDeleteIt seems this is the season for PPL and their hatchet-men, otherwise known as Asplundh tree service, to ramp up their annual assault on trees in the area.
Yes, I understand that trees and wires don’t always mix, but there has to be some better way to protect the wires without gouging an unsightly ’V’ in the trees. I’ve also seen trees that will never threaten any wires (due to the tree type and max heights) still unnecessarily topped off by Asplundh. I’m sure that’s great for Asplundh’s profits, but it’s not so good for the trees being butchered.
Maybe the solution is for PPL to hire someone other than the “experts” at Asplundh - someone that would be able to find a better way of trimming the trees. Or maybe PPL could redirect some of the tree-trimming money going to Asplundh and put it towards moving their lines underground.
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but there has to be a better way of doing things than what we’re currently seeing.
The expense of moving lines underground when it is not part of the original development is beyond cost prohibitive. The actual solution is to completely remove the trees, but PPL catches heck for that if it is done. Property owners either have to learn to live with a cleared right of way, or, you get the "v"s.
DeleteMike, thanks for all the great work on your blog!!! You should possibly count your blessings for NOT being on the board... who needs the hassle and B/S at your advanced age. God bless you for your efforts, though!!! I'm all but finished with the city and all it's attendant B/S. As George Carlin succinctly stated "It's a big club, and you and I aren't in it!!" I refuse to scratch backs at my stage in life.
ReplyDelete