ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The vision for what now is Lehigh Parkway began almost 100 years ago as little more than a one-and-a-half-mile concrete road.
Today, the park spans 629 acres and has more than six miles of trails to explore behind Queen City Municipal Airport. And the city has a plan — and now more funding — to make it part of a continuous network of biking and walking routes.
Significant grant funding recently announced by state Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, will help.
"These changes, while seemingly small, play a significant role into investing into the community."Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh
Schweyer announced Tuesday that Allentown will get $500,000 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Multimodal Transportation Fund, or MTF, to extend the MLK Trail off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and replace traffic signals at three intersections along 17th Street.
The MLK Trail extension will connect Lehigh Parkway to Fountain Park.
“These changes, while seemingly small, play a significant role into investing into the community,” Schweyer said.
Closing a critical gap
Plans shared by the city on Wednesday show a project involving construction of a 1.2-mile extension of the MLK Trail.
“The proposed 10-foot-wide paved, multi-use path provides a strategic walking and bicycling link from Lehigh Parkway Park to Fountain Park,” the project description says.
It says it “closes a critical gap between the MLK Trail and the Little Lehigh Parkway Path network, creating an 8-mile-long trail network in this section of Allentown.”
"The MLK trail is just one of many outdoor pursuits available in the Lehigh Valley. The extension will expand that offering and enable more people to enjoy it."Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh
“The MLK trail is just one of many outdoor pursuits available in the Lehigh Valley. The extension will expand that offering and enable more people to enjoy it,” Schweyer said.
The trail extension project will consist of three segments moving south to north:
- The first, most southern segment, will consist of a new paved trail on the western side of Lehigh Parkway East, beginning at the intersection of Lehigh Parkway North and Lehigh Parkway East. It will follow Lehigh Parkway East north toward Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
- The second segment will consist of a new paved trail beginning at the parking lot along Lehigh Parkway East, just south of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Little Lehigh Creek, running along the southern side of Little Lehigh Creek between Lehigh Parkway East and South 10th Street Pedestrians and cyclists will cross to the north side of Little Lehigh Creek via the existing South 10th Street bridge
- The third segment will consist of a new trail connecting South 10th Street to the Fountain Park Path
The scope of work falls within the guidelines of the MTF, which says funds may be used for the development, rehabilitation and enhancement of transportation assets to existing communities, streetscape, lighting, sidewalk enhancement, pedestrian safety, connectivity of transportation assets and transit-oriented development.
Key project improvements
While the city currently does not have a timeline to share on the project, plans say key project improvements are numerous and involve:
- 1.2 miles of paved, ADA-compliant, shared-use path
- Formal trail crossings of Lehigh Parkway East roadway and 10th Street with rectangular rapid flashing beacon signals, crosswalks, warning signage/pavement markings and street lighting
- Improvements to an existing gravel parking lot at Lehigh Parkway East, including paved surface, tire stops, ADA compliant parking spaces and custom signage
- Continuous pedestrian-scale lighting along the entire length of trail including a solar lighting demonstration area from 10th street to MLK Drive
- Three stormwater management areas
“This project will enhance access for residents of the newly developed portions of Center City Allentown to reach a large trail network and hundreds of acres of open space and parkland along the Little Lehigh Creek," the project description says.
"In addition, it will provide residents in more suburban parts of Allentown a non-motorized transportation route to reach the jobs and amenities in Center City Allentown.”
