Tomorrow At Trexler Park

Don't forget to come out at noon for a walk in the park.

Bring your families and your questions. I will try to provide as much history as possible.

We will meet at the main entrance down the street from Wegmans.

It should be a really great time and it sounds like alot of people are coming out to share their love of our park system.

Hope to see you on Saturday.

Cedar Creek Parkway Construction: 5-Hot Update

I discovered that new deeper trenches have been dug in both the existing trench and in entirely new areas of the Old Fashion Garden.



I spoke with one of the workers down there and asked him for the latest. He told me that they are indeed laying a new irrigation system but are also working on the beginnings of a new stone path. He was very nice and let me know that the job he was doing was going to make the Garden better. I agree. Once the pathway is finished, the way they have it dug out, it is going to look very nice down there.


Nothing new was happening to the ponds.

You can keep track of the construction here:
Update 6/25/09
Update 7/10/09
Update 7/16/09
Update 7/23/09

Allentown Park Log 17: Jordan Meadows

Jordan Meadows is one of the newest parks in the Allentown park system. Original construction took place in the late seventies and renovations were done in the nineties. Jordan Meadows is primarily a recreation destination with basketball courts, a racquet ball court and a roller hockey rink:




There is a really cool WWII memorial here:


Central Catholic High School uses the back end of Jordan Meadows for football practice:


Alongside the Jordan Creek there are a few access trails that seem to have been created by people using the creek for a swim:


CCHS’ environmental club had many projects down here and I tried to get in touch with Mr. Thomas Shive to discuss whatever work took place here but my attempts have been unsuccessful. Jordan Meadows is a clean, usable park and is a very nice urban addition to our park system. There is talk of connecting Jordan Meadows to Jordan Park with a new trail. It would be great to see that. A nice long urban hike would be pretty awesome. Expect a part 2 if I ever hear from Mr. Shive.

Allentown Park Log 16: Bucky Boyle Park

In 1912 following the plans of Frank Koester, the construction of what was then called Riverfront Park took place. At that time, what is now called Bucky Boyle Park sat riverside in the middle of a thriving district of mixed industry. Over the years, the park has remained as the businesses around it disappeared. Today, the park is a rare bright spot around the disintegrating shadows of yesteryear.



A new playground and water park have been installed here. (Playgrounds did not look this cool or fun when I was a kid.)




On the (so hot your clothes are as wet with sweat as they would be if you jumped in the Lehigh) July afternoon I visited Bucky Boyle was full of kids enjoying that water park. Despite what appeared to be heavy usage, Bucky Boyle was devoid of litter and the park looked beautiful. It was certainly a contrast to the looming Neuweiler plant.

There are basketball courts and baseball diamonds down here and they are all in pristine shape.




In 1926, The Lions Club constructed the Pavilion that is still here. Great views of the river and of Adam’s Island are available inside:


Lehigh University has a boat house here with a dock that happens to be currently covered in poo.


Down by the river, there were a lot of ducks and geese. While I was standing there, three of four female Mallards swam up to me, reaffirming my status as chick magnet.



It was exceptional to stand in one of the oldest parks in Allentown and see how some renovations can really help Bucky Boyle become one of the nicest parks for families to visit in the city. Something I had yet to see in a park was the presence of the Park Patrol. I had no idea that unit even existed. I say here though that while Bucky Boyle is in as good of a condition as it is; a little farther down the river Canal Park is languishing in litter and misuse.

I must relay to you a personal story about Bucky Boyle park. When my brother and I were children we we’re either passing the park or in it, I don’t remember now but at some point I turned to my younger brother and said (for whatever reason) that it was his name and (for whatever reason) it stuck. My brother is still called Bucky to this day. If you ever see him or visit his blog feel free to address him as such.

Interview with Dr. Abigal Pattishall

Last Friday, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Dr. Abigail Pattishall. Dr. Pattishall is leading the Riparian restoration project at Cedar Beach Parkway. We met next to the Cedar creek, where the restoration will be underway this autumn.

Q: After eighty years without Riparian buffers, Why do we need them now?

Dr. Pattishall: “We know better now, than we did then. We need to do better.” Eighty years ago Allentown was surrounded be farmfields and woodlots. We didn’t really need to worry about flooding, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Things have changed.

Q: Do you have any opinion of the playground project on the other side of Cedar Beach Parkway?

Dr. Pattishall: “No. Not really, my focus is here."

Q: Do you live in Allentown?

Dr. Pattishall: “I have, but don’t currently.. I have been in the Lehigh Valley most of my life. Some of my fondest memories are of running in the Parkway and watching the bats at Bogart’s Bridge.”

Q: How would you respond to people who believe that this project is changing the fundamental nature of our parks, and not necessarily for the better?

Dr. Pattishall: “This will change the parks, and definitely for the better. People who live here are lucky to have this extensive park system with so many waterways. Developing these buffers and no mow zones are going to help clean up the streams and increase wildlife habitat. We are not trying to destroy the parks. These are small changes to protect the waterway and provide some habitat. Imagine how cool it would be for a kid from center city to see an American Kestrel or a Kingfisher fly through here.

Q: What about the storm water the city pipes into the streams?

Dr. Pattishall: “Stormwater in general is huge problem. When possible storm water should be kept at the point where it originated. In a city setting, where we have so much impervious surface, this isn’t always possible. Much of the City’s stormwater therefore gets discharged into the creeks. Riparian buffers help mitigate the adverse effects of stormwater discharges by stabilizing streambanks and decreasing erosion, sedimentation and turbidity.

Q: Will this project be at all like the project at Trexler Park?

Dr. Pattishall: “They are definitely two different projects but the riparian buffer at Trexler Park shows that people are happy with riparian restoration. People want to reconnect with nature. Why would people want to go to a park with no trees or wildlife?

Q: Will this project bring more snakes to Cedar Beach?

Dr. Pattishall: “This project will enhance the riparian habitat at Cedar Beach. Snakes play important roles in streamside ecosystems. The Northern watersnake, for example, does us a great service by scavenging on dead trout, including the heads, tails and entrails many fishermen discard along the banks.”

“Worrying about dangerous snakes in the Allentown parks is irrational. Even if there were venomous snakes in the Allentown Parks (which there are not and will not be), in my experience, all snakes (big venomous rattlesnakes and tiny harmless garter snakes alike) are afraid of people and try to avoid them. If you do see a snake, treat it with respect just like any other animal: watch it, appreciate it, maybe take a picture, and let it go about its day.”

Q: How will this project affect the flooding situation at Cedar Beach?

Dr. Pattishall: “ It should help considerably. With a substantial root system stabilizing the stream banks, the storm events will not be as damaging. Over time, as trees and shrubs age, die, and fall into the stream, the stream will begin to meander more and the velocity of the water will slow.

Q: How long will it take to see these changes?

Dr. Pattishall: “This area has the ability to revert to a natural system so quickly that you won’t remember standing here looking at this muddy and eroded stream bank.”

Q: With no-mow zones, will people still be able to see the creek? The grasses are very high at Trexler.

Dr. Pattishall: “ There will be mowed access points to the creek. There will still be mowed expanses to play Frisbee and picnic in. The no-mow areas will be actually be cut once or twice a year to make sure they don’t become overgrown. At most, they should be waist high.”

Q: Is there a blanket plan for all the no-mow zones in the parks?

Dr. Pattishall: “ We visited each park and met with the park staff to decide on where no-mow areas would be most appropriate. Each park will have a unique habitat restoration plan.”

Q: How will you deal with the knotweed at Trout Creek Parkway?

Dr. Pattishall: “Invasive-exotic plants are so tough to deal with. The key is to eradicate invasives when they first appear because a little stand can quickly become unmanageable. At Trout Creek Parkway I recommend trying to contain it and stop it from spreading further. Unfortunately makes up the majority of the streamside vegetation and is really the only thing stabilizing the streambanks there.
Speaking of Trout Creek though, I would like to see a huge effort to restore and revitalize Allentown’s inner city parks, like Trout Creek Parkway and Jordan Park. City kids, and youth in general are increasingly out of touch with the environment and have lost their sense amazement with nature.
I’ll be happy if just one inner city kid sees a butterfly for the first time or a raccoon and is fascinated and decides to learn more about nature. As a kid I loved finding bugs and salamanders in my backyard. Its no surprise to anyone who knew me as a kid that I grew up to be a biologist.”

Q: How would you respond to the people that are up in arms about this project in Cedar Beach?

Dr.Pattishall: “I am very happy that people care so much about their community. I hope everyone will realize that clean water and wildlife habitat are critical components to the quality of life in Allentown. Environmental restoration is the last thing anyone should be up in arms about.”

Abigail received her Ph.D. in integrative biology from Lehigh University. She has been working on Pennsylvania streams for the past ten years. Her area of expertise concerns how urbanization affects wildlife, specifically snakes. She has published several papers in scientific journals and has presented her work at numerous international meetings. She is currently the Director of the Rivers Conservation Department at Wildlands Conservancy.

Adventure at Kimmet's Lock

I must confess something here before I talk about Kimmet’s lock and my subsequent adventure. In my Canal Park log, I erroneously stated that Canal Park was the only Allentown Park on the Lehigh River. Bucky Boyle (which will be documented later in the week) and Kimmet’s lock are both on the river.

Kimmet’s lock is primarily a boat launch access point on the river.

The water here is of questionable quality.


Past the ruins, a trail leads to train tracks which stretch next to the river all the way to Canal Park and points beyond.


I decided to take a seat by the side of the water, and take the chance to actually relax. The water here is beautiful and on as hot a July day as this one, the breeze was refreshing.

Looking up from my rocky seat I could see the old railroad trestle looming.

Figuring it had to be fenced off, I decided to walk back to the parking lot and head home. As it turned out, the fence was not much of a fence at all and the old bridge was easily accessed. "Well then, probably should go out on it".

There is an old rail car still left up there.

Being familiar with the much smaller and lower trestle in the Parkway, I knew what I would be putting myself through if I went out there. I couldn’t resist though, the opportunity seemed too great not to go and with the thoughts of my paralyzing stroll on the wall at Fountain Park dancing in my head, I headed out on the bridge.

The first few feet were a cinch. I was riding high, chest out, back straight with the gait of John Wayne that is until I looked down (Mental dialogue: Way to go Andrew, now you're going to break through these old wooden beams and drown. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.) and instantly began quaking and nearly peeing my pants. I kept walking though for whatever reason and as long as I looked straight ahead, I was golden. The views of the river here are incredible.


Reaching the other side, I was truly feeling pumped. It was a beautiful day (despite the heat) and I had done it. No sitting down and being scared silly. No sissy stuff. I was all man up there and I even looked down a few times and it was totally fine. Then, I met a shirtless fellow. He was a nice guy. He jumped off the bridge; which seemed a perfectly normal thing, if you know people who frequently jump from bridges. There is, it turns out a bit of tradition here of jumping. There is even a rope swing.


After seeing the shirtless fellow leap I realized just how slow I was walking across the wooden planks. I also began to notice how many of them were in no way structurally stable. At this point, my Fountain Park experience seemed to be returning. But, by this time, I had reached the other side. See, I was looking down the whole way across. Stupid I know but it felt like the right thing to do, because apparently as this shows, I happen to be actually stupid.

It was beautiful up there though...

(For the record: Do not attempt this. It is unsafe and probably trespassing.)