Subscribers to the blog know that I bill myself as an advocate for the traditional park system and the WPA structures within them. However, since 2005 the Allentown parks and recreation departments have been combined, and I claim no expertise about the recreation programs. On the contrary, I know very little about them.
I do know that the basketball courts at Cedar Beach are heavily used. I do know that the baseball field in Fountain Park is heavily used. I do know that whenever kids are playing sports, it is positive for both them and the city.
With the above disclaimers, allow me to opine that the recreation sector of the park department should refrain from those activities for which there may not be much long term demand, such as was the case with roller hockey in Jordan Meadows. Near the parking lot at Robin Hood in the Parkway, it's painful to see a disk golf tee located at the neglected WPA spring pond, with its quaint miniature bridge.
Shown above a pickup game of hoops at Jordan Meadow. The handball court was also in use this past Saturday.
Good points, MM. Disc golf appears to be catchy on some college campuses, but not elsewhere. There is one at Hackett Park in Easton and I rarely see it used. Pickle ball seems to be gaining in popularity.
ReplyDeleteAs an Allentown resident I have no desire to play frisbee golf, but I would love to see the original passive park features you refer to be restored with some trailside information about their history.
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