ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A new concert series at Allentown’s Union Terrace Park, set to culminate Friday night, has been a smashing success thanks to investments in infrastructure and partnerships, city officials and ArtsQuest leaders said Thursday.
The Union Terrace Amphitheater underwent major renovations over the past year. Crews from Penn Mount Stone replaced damaged stones and repointed historic stonework.
"This is the site of real investment."Mayor Matt Tuerk
Much of the $382,000 project was funded by the Trexler Trust, while the city also contributed to the restoration project at Union Terrace Park, which Mayor Matt Tuerk called “one of our most iconic and beautiful parks.”
Tuerk said he and Allentown officials have done a lot of events to show off park-related improvements in recent years.
“But nothing quite like this," he said. "This is the site of real investment.
“This is an incredible spot.”
'Exciting period ... of reinvestment'
Ruffian Tittman, executive director of the Allentown Parknership, said Union Terrace Park — built in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration — is a “treasured piece of iconic, historic infrastructure.”
The park is "now probably as good, or maybe even a little better, than it was then," she said.
The results of that project were on display throughout the summer as large crowds returned to the park on Friday nights for free concerts.
"Come see exactly what we’ve pulled off here."Mayor Matt Tuerk
The concert series — produced by ArtsQuest and sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network — featured a “diverse” lineup of national acts supported by local performers, ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said from behind a podium on the steps leading to the park.
State Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, lauded the many “phenomenal” partners who worked on the project at Union Terrace Park, which he considered his “front yard growing up.”
The restoration is the latest celebration in “a really exciting period … of reinvestment” in Allentown parks, Miller said, noting a string of recent groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings.
Tuerk urged residents to “come see exactly what we’ve pulled off here” by enjoying the final show of the summer concert series at 6 p.m. Friday.
It will feature 1970s soft rock group Orleans, which had the Top 10 song “Dance With Me” in 1975 and a Top 5 hit with the upbeat “Still The One” in 1976.
Local performers DMC Duo are set to open for Orleans.
