BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem plans a variety of roadway and park improvements for its residents.
A city official offered a quick look at the possibilities during a planning discussion Thursday.
- The city of Bethlehem has some roadway, parks and recreation improvements in the works
- Federal and state money could bolster hotspots in the north, south and west sides of town
- The city director of planning and zoning says officials are 'spreading the love as best we can'
City Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller listed initiatives surrounding projects and grants applied for and received to fund such improvements.
A multimodal grant will fund pedestrian and bike improvements along East Broad Street, as per the active transportation plan between Broad Street and Northside Alive.
It starts in the downtown with [the] expansion and extension of the medians. We’ll go eastward almost to High Street and then we’ll do intersection improvements at High, Linden, Maple and Elm.Darlene Heller, city director of planning and zoning
“It starts in the downtown with [the] expansion and extension of the medians. We'll go eastward almost to High Street and then we’ll do intersection improvements at High, Linden, Maple and Elm" streets, Heller said.
“Each of those intersections will have bump-outs, and they do have handicap ramps now. But we’ll upgrade those. We’ll enhance the crosswalks.”
More improvements
Heller said other improvements on the city’s agenda include:
- Although the city wasn’t approved for the Safe Streets and Roads for All federal grant program, officials plan to reapply in June hoping to make improvements from Stefko Boulevard out to Hanover Avenue, addressing bike lanes, planting street trees and adding lighting
- The grant money will be used to connect the southern end of Monocacy Way from Schoenersville Road down to Sand Island Park
- Grants from the state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources will fund improvements at Fairview Park on Bethlehem’s West Side, south of Broad Street
- Officials have applied for federal and state money to address improvements at Friendship Park in the northern part of the city, just west of Linden Street
- Following a public meeting regarding an extension of the South Bethlehem Greenway between South New and Third streets, officials look to consolidate public input and work towards a final design
- The Pennsylvania Municipal League will meet for a convention in Bethlehem this fall, and KABOOM! — a nonprofit addressing playspace inequity — will help to complete the Fairview Park project the week of the meeting
'Spreading the love'
City Planning Commissioner member Thomas Barker said he hoped to see some funding allocated to Westside Park on 13th Avenue.
As a West Side resident, he said he felt that more attention has been placed on the needs of the South Side and other areas of town.
“We’re spreading the love as best we can,” Heller answered.
