Easton takes the lead: Bushkill Creek Trail
In this Morning Call article, it is revealed that the Bushkill Creek Trail connected parts of Easton will soon see construction finally begin. I congratulate Easton on their forward thinking and I look forward to visiting the trail and the new park once it is completed and you can count on seeing it documented here on Remember.
I am posting about this because in a few months a second public meeting will take place in Allentown regarding our own possible connective trail system. I am 100% behind this plan and I believe it is key to future economic success in our city. Creating such a trail system that will connect all of our parks as well as various schools, restaurants and libraries will create a new tourism.
If the "trail hub" is created at the former incinerator site down near the American Parkway past Fountain Park, imagine this for a second. In the abandoned warehouse area between that incinerator site and the Lehigh River, a few businesses open. Perhaps a bicycle shop that can address the needs of bikers on the trail. Perhaps a sporting goods shop to do the same. The possibilities at this point are endless, and fruitful. Imagine further that this is done in tandem with the construction of a hockey arena in the wasted space that has yet to develop into Lehigh Landing between Bucky Boyle Park and the former site of the A+B. Things could change quickly for that barren awful area of Allentown.
Now, we are far away from any of this happening. It will require a foresight and vision that I am not entirely sure our city government is capable of. There will be resistance to trails by folks in Allentown and I encourage them to get out to the next public meeting to enter the discussion as the planning continues. As soon as the date of the next meeting is posted, I'll repost here on Remember.
These trails and greenways are popping up all throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Bethlehem has some going on. South Whitehall Township just approved a trail system of their own. That final leg in South Whitehall is part of an epic plan. These projects highlight a renewing interest in the wild world we share our civilized world with and they are exciting, forward thinking developments.
I am glad to see Easton take this initiative, I hope we follow.
I am posting about this because in a few months a second public meeting will take place in Allentown regarding our own possible connective trail system. I am 100% behind this plan and I believe it is key to future economic success in our city. Creating such a trail system that will connect all of our parks as well as various schools, restaurants and libraries will create a new tourism.
If the "trail hub" is created at the former incinerator site down near the American Parkway past Fountain Park, imagine this for a second. In the abandoned warehouse area between that incinerator site and the Lehigh River, a few businesses open. Perhaps a bicycle shop that can address the needs of bikers on the trail. Perhaps a sporting goods shop to do the same. The possibilities at this point are endless, and fruitful. Imagine further that this is done in tandem with the construction of a hockey arena in the wasted space that has yet to develop into Lehigh Landing between Bucky Boyle Park and the former site of the A+B. Things could change quickly for that barren awful area of Allentown.
Now, we are far away from any of this happening. It will require a foresight and vision that I am not entirely sure our city government is capable of. There will be resistance to trails by folks in Allentown and I encourage them to get out to the next public meeting to enter the discussion as the planning continues. As soon as the date of the next meeting is posted, I'll repost here on Remember.
These trails and greenways are popping up all throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Bethlehem has some going on. South Whitehall Township just approved a trail system of their own. That final leg in South Whitehall is part of an epic plan. These projects highlight a renewing interest in the wild world we share our civilized world with and they are exciting, forward thinking developments.
I am glad to see Easton take this initiative, I hope we follow.
Labels: Delaware River
posted by Andrew Kleiner at
10:15 AM
11 Comments:
Sometimes when I think of Allentown's brownfield development potential in tandem with a connective trail system, I have trouble paying attention in class. These are the types of things that inspire me and I am incredibly lame for it.
I agree. Our Current City Government does as of right now not possess the vision, or strategic inventory to carry out the plans many Allentonians would love to see for our city.
Thats why we have to make sure on days like November 3rd that we take the steps to elect...or Hire( a point most voters don't think about at the Polls) the people who have the skills, and the vision, to return Allentown to its former glory.
I want allentown to be known for more than being close to where the Iron pigs play and making its own gravy in the rain...
I want to see this forward vision coming more from the mayor and City Council. Stephen, there are officials in our local government like Joyce Marin who know exactly what needs to be done and are attempting to do what they can, in my opinion. Greg Weitzel, is pushing for these trails as well. The citizens need who want to see things like this done need to get invovled. It is easy to blame the government when things are bad and easy to commend them when things go well; it remains difficult regardless of circumstance to get a real active citizenry.
Trust me, when no one came to my litter pick up, it was easier to see the problem in this city.
andrew, if you want to see something sad, go to the east side of cedar park. there, as part of the trail network, they are laying a new path along top of the park, parallel to the sidewalk. since your trail a-holes can't use the sidewalk, or the existing roadway down by the lake, but need SPECIAL trails, the plan is CRAP
Mike,
First of all, the plan is not CRAP. Second, I don't know what is going on at Cedar Beach and it is not what trail plan developers advised, mentioned, or proposed at the initial meeting.
The crap in your comment is the idea that whatever is going on at Cedar Beach is indicative of anything that might, possibly, maybe happen one day if, maybe, when they finally go ahead with a connective trail development plan.
I haven't been able to keep my eye on Cedar Beach as much as I have due to school obligations but I'll get down there and check it out. It was bad the last time.
what is proposed really doesn't matter compared to what is DONE, that's what COUNTS.
as you know the real master plan of 2005, by the phila. group, suggested LESS in cedar parkway, not more. i don't share your perception that a trail network has any economic development ramifications. after seeing the widened paved path right up to the creek west of the rose garden, it appears that the park is being sacrificed for the cyclists, including the buffer.
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i must disclose that apparently i mentally superimposed the plans for the new pathway, which i have studied, and an existing stone driveway above the swimming pool near hamilton street. a visit today reveals that construction on this new trailnet path has NOT begun. i apologize for my hallucination.
Fair enough Micheal.
Trust me, when this trail plan is implemented, or rather if, it is going to be a few years from now and should only create new trails between parks, not in them.
andrew, the trail path is already on the updated plans for cedar park, you can see it across the bottom of the plan which i have published on my blog several times. that path, which is parallel to honochick drive is also on the east side, right next to the hamilton street sidewalk
I agree with you that the citizens need to be involved. One way to be involved is to take 10 minutes and Vote.
I want a better allentown.
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