The theme of the SportsFest coverage on Sunday was that 36 different sports were being played at one location, CedarBeach Park. Anybody who drove up either Ott or Hamilton Street knows that records were also broken in
Grass Parking. Rented security personnel continued directing vehicles to the meadow just west of the swimming pool, and up to the tree planted area toward Hamilton Street, until every square foot was jam packed. I'm conflicted about parking on the grass. Although MayFair through Sportsfest is certainly rough on the grass, it's only two months of the year, and thousands of people are served by the events. I do find it environmentally hypocritical to park on the grass, but institute a no mow zone denying access and view of the stream. Perhaps the Park Department should conduct a public input meeting on these issues. Could you imagine a meeting with citizens and the Park Department, without paid consultants, and projects which cost $millions?
above reprinted from July of 2012
ADDENDUM JULY 28, 2025: AwesomeFest is Sportsfest on steroids, which I suppose is a dirty word in sports competition. Although that former open space toward Hamilton Street is now planted orchard style with trees, the cars park in the park everywhere else, including on the grass along Linden Street. About twenty years ago, the Trexler Trust had a study commissioned which concluded that CedarBeach Park was being overused, and that was with a fraction of the current events held there now. Also, since that time, the Trexler Trust has relinquished any pretext of monitoring the park department for agendas outside of their founder's intent...on the contrary, they have become merely silent sycophants of the park department, with a big wallet.
Is there an alternative to parking on the grass? I suspect that the only alterative would be to have the events somewhere else. It may be better to park on the grass, than build more paved parking lots. The grass does recover.
ReplyDeleteThe grass may recover, the soil compaction is a lingering issue with multiple environmental repercussions, all of them extremely negative.
DeleteThe Trexler Trust has become a big part of the problem in Allentown. Doling out funds to NGO's that are attracting the homeless into the city by facilitating rather than addressing their homelessness. As well, they throw money at nonprofits who manage only to prophet themselves while Allentown's low income residents continue to lanquish. This is what happens when woke elites populate the board. Isolated in their cozy, posh neighbors they fail to see the ruin their actions are inflicting on the downtown and it's surrounding neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteI saw what was happening and obviously this event has outgrown this space. It created dangerous traffic situations on Ott Street and the Parkway streets. I saw cars doing u-turns, double parking, a pedestrians crossing wherever, and no cop presence. It’s time to move this to a larger space with organized parking.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:54 said: “I saw cars doing u-turns, double parking, a pedestrians crossing wherever, and no cop presence.”
ReplyDeleteWe need to understand, accept and welcome those who are using our parks. Maybe we can also develop a partnership with Auto Zone so future attendees can drain and change their oil on the grass while they spend the day in our parks.
Tolerance of differing cultures and viewpoints is what this Mayor is all about.
Unless HE doesn’t like YOUR viewpoint.
Thousands upon thousands of out of town participants will visit Crum Stadium Friday & Saturday. A much bigger event. From what I’m told there is no attempt to use grass areas for anything but humans. The paved road running through the park IS used to single file park travel buses, about 40 buses per day.
ReplyDelete