When Harry Trexler commissioned Frank Meehan of Philadelphia to design the Allentown parks, Meehan was considered the leading landscape architect in America. It was because of Meehan that Allentown was shovel ready when the WPA started in the mid 1930's. It was because of Meehan that our park system became the envy of cities everywhere.
Throughout the park system he planted Weeping Willows thirty feet apart along the creeks. Their shallow, spreading root system provided the Little Lehigh, Cedar and Jordan Creeks erosion protection for almost a century. It provided both fish and fisherman beauty and shade along the creek banks.
Move ahead seventy five years, and in 2006 the from out of town new mayor Pawlowski combined the park and recreation departments, and hired a recreation major for department head. The new director turned over many park management decisions to the Wildlands Conservancy. The Wildlands introduced riparian buffers, even though the storm sewer system is piped directly into the creeks. As the Willows neared their lifespan and started dying out, they were not replaced. Rather, other trees were planted, back from the creeks, doubling down on the buffer concept.
We now realize that the creek banks are eroding, and that the buffers are incubators for invasive species. It is now the department's intention to seek outside consultants for recommendations. Rather than go outside again for advice, they should go back in history...Weeping Willows should be again planted along the banks. HOWEVER, the department REJECTS this suggestion, because willows are not indigenous.
When I was a boy I lived above Lehigh Parkway in Little Lehigh Manor. My father's uncle worked for the park department cutting the grass along the creek. I'm saddened by the state of the overgrown creek banks, and the stubbornness of the city to not see the best solution.
Many of the original Willow trees have died, and the remaining ones are on their last legs.
above reprinted from May of 2022
When out of towners run the show all that matters is the here and now. As we have discussed before, there is no institutional knowledge left in city government. The "experts " who are brought in will apply their college learned template solutions. In the end, our cookie cutter parks will match our cookie cutter downtown. We will resemble ever other nondiscript city and town in America. Bethlehem chose a wiser course.
ReplyDeleteOut-of-towners in the city government, especially the mayor see Allentown as a stepping-stone to higher positions. The parks are of little consequence to them, as they have bigger fish to fry
DeleteMike, if Matt was smart he'd put you on the new park board. But he demonstrates again, he isn't. Giving you a seat would have made Matt and the board appear fair and balanced. On the board your suggestions and insights would have been ignored and you would have been a single vote against all the rest on every important decision. In fact you would be effectively neutered while the board appeared democratic and balanced. Without you, few will see it as such. It will be just another yes board for the city's controlling interests. What's new, count your blessings. Scott Armstrong
ReplyDeleteBig government is bad. Penicillin is not indigenous to humans. Beware of the limits of education.
ReplyDeleteGod made streams, and God put fish in the streams. God also made fish a staple of the human diet. But liberals put weeds in the way of fishing the streams.
ReplyDeleteWhat is lacking in this conversation is that parks are a legacy we leave for the future.If we don't utilize the knowledge we have, such as managing invasive species, and not introducing non native plants, it risks the park future.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the invasive species must be managed, but we can introduce non native plants, such as the willows. As you must know to maintain a buffer without invasive species would be both cost and labor intensive. Furthermore, the union has a problem with volunteers doing park work. Factoring in all these real world variables, Meehan had it right with the willows.
DeletePlanting willows will not risk the future of the park. Scott Armstrong
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