ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A team of experts is planning out the next 15 years for Allentown’s vaunted park system.
But it’s also working to ensure residents are well-represented in what could be a yearlong process.
About two dozen people worked in small groups Wednesday night at the city's East Side Youth Center to pinpoint problems with the city’s parks and identify opportunities to improve them.
Many East Siders at the meeting called for better maintenance at Andre Reed Park — and answers about its long-term future, with the Allentown School District eyeing a piece of the park for Dieruff High School teams.
“The parks are for the people."Bill Collins, Simone Collins Landscape Architecture owner
They also hoped for more connections between city parks and trails, bike lanes, intersection improvements and better accessibility.
Residents’ feedback is a critical piece of crafting a masterplan for Allentown’s parks and open spaces, according to Bill Collins, owner of Simone Collins Landscape Architecture.
He said he and his colleagues have ideas of what could be done, but it would be “premature” to start talking about them before learning what residents want.
“The parks are for the people,” Collins told LehighValleyNews.com Wednesday night as he led a breakout session during the second of five meetings to hear residents’ thoughts on how to maximize recreational spaces.
'Unusually blessed'
City officials hired the firm to develop a 15-year plan for how to best use Allentown's recreation and open spaces.
The company plans to hold three more meetings to gather residents’ feedback, as well as several meetings with a committee of city officials and others.
The parks-and-recreational-space master plan requires Allentown City Council’s approval, which Collins said he is optimistic it will earn in the fall.
Simone Collins also is working to develop plans for Bucky Boyle Park, Fountain Park and Roosevelt Park.
Allentown has 35 parks covering more than 2,000 acres. Its park system, which Mayor Matt Tuerk refers to as “the crown jewel of the Lehigh Valley,” was primarily established on land gifted to the city by Gen. Harry Trexler.
“Allentown is unusually blessed." But “maybe you don’t have all the parks as close to the [residents] as you’d like.”Bill Collins, Simone Collins Landscape Architecture owner
The Allentown magnate donated much of his land and stipulated in his will that one-third of all annual charitable donations made by his trust go to the city for park maintenance and improvements.
“Allentown is unusually blessed,” Collins said. But “maybe you don’t have all the parks as close to the [residents] as you’d like.”
The master plan is meant to “coordinate all of the physical resources, recreational programming and services” that Allentown offers while looking at what the city and its residents will need through 2040, Collins said.
He implored residents to complete an online survey about Allentown’s park system. About 350 residents have responded, but “the more, the better” as planners work to prioritize goals.
The survey is also available in Spanish.
