The City of Allentown is conducting a series of meetings to find out what the public would like to see and do in the parks. I think I have the bonafides as an advocate for the parks, and what I would like to see is the parks better run and maintained! Here are my suggestions.
Cut the grass to the creeks' edges in the most iconic sections of the system, including Robin Hood of Lehigh Parkway and the Rose Garden area of Cedar Park. Replace dying out Willow Trees with Willow Trees.
Maintain traditional structures such as the wooden picnic shelters at Cedar Park, rather than let them decay until replaced by metal ones. Bogerts Bridge should have been maintained instead of years of neglect.
Fully staff remaining pools and traditional recreation programs.
Repair the landings on the WPA double stairwell in Lehigh Parkway and other WPA structures.
Remove the debris piled around the Robin Hood Bridge stone piers.
I was informed on good source that some gates and other infrastructure were removed in critical places to make the parks more welcoming and inclusive. The iconic Allentown park system is not a workshop for political correctness. Although advocating for the traditional park system and the WPA structures is a passion of mine, I will not be attending these park meetings. The park department is so far behind on so many basic things, they should not be conducting dog and pony shows.
DISCLAIMER: I was born and grew up above Lehigh Parkway, which was my backyard and playground. My father's uncle worked for the park department cutting the grass. I wouldn't have an issue with the meetings if the purpose was just to introduce new residents to the park system and what it offers.
I'll be attending and can pass along your litany of complaints to the relevant parties.
ReplyDeleteI will add this. To give the impression this city actually CARES about keeping its public park spaces neat and tidy at all times, make certain enough trash receptacles are available for people to use!
ReplyDeleteThis is particularly important during special event gatherings. Large, temporary, cardboard trash containers ARE available for placement.
Whenever one drives by and sees trash containers spilling over on to the ground, that means people ARE willing to properly dispose of their trash. But, it is the CITY’s responsibility to monitor their use to ensure enough trash receptacles are in place and spaced apart conveniently for all to use.
Allentown - your parks are your public face, your TRADEMARK. Right now, you look a little neglected, unkempt, shabby, even dirty.
FIX IT!
I believe these meeting are related to Bucky Boyle, Fountain, and Rosevelt parks only.
ReplyDeleteDon’t worry, there will be a good show but nothing will happen at the end of the day similar to all the other initiatives presented to residents over the last 8 years.
No human, other than Earl Nagel, has spent more time in the Little Lehigh Parkway in the last half century than I have. I spent uncounted hours working on the last comprehensive Master Plan. I served on the Allentown EAC and the Allentown Shade Tree Commission.
ReplyDeleteI, too, view these public meetings as nothing more than a political stunt, at best.
At worst the outcome of these sessions will be a further diminishment of the Queen City’s most precious resource in service to political expediency.
Meanwhile, another downtown shooting (where crime is down, of course)
ReplyDeleteAt least the streets were clean on Tuesday when out of towners from Mahoney school district visited the DaVinci center. We will all see that garbage flowing in the water of the little Lehigh were the drinking water intake is through the weed walls away from prying public eyes. The blending is supposed to go out to the Big Lehigh river down stream?
ReplyDeleteCheck out the lehigh valley news post from this evening. Those people showed up. You did not. Many other concerns besides the buffers and the Mayor bothered to show up.
ReplyDeleteWe will only show up for closing arguments of the last dated meeting because there bubbling boiling blue juice drinking water has already been decided. Not a soul has mentioned the letter sent from lehigh county authority this past week admiting to negligence, soon they will be selling water and putting a boil advisory out via a letter.
ReplyDelete