The Island Of Lehigh Parkway

The scene above shows the island in the Little Lehigh, with the boatlanding in the background. Please note the bridge leading to the island. The island, bridge and landing were created by the WPA. Although the island still remains, as does its stone piers, the bridge is long gone. The boatlanding, although buried, was partially recovered last year by myself and a number of volunteers. The island, as remaining, has lost its shape and has been enlarged from deposits carried by the Little Lehigh. The island was created by the WPA in the mid 1930's, by excavating a channel on its south side. It is the intention of the park department to eventually allow mother nature to fill in the channel. Park philosophy has changed from manicured to al natural. It is my hope that the excavated portion of the boatlanding will be retained. In regard to yesterday's post on Irving Park, I have confirmed that one of the WPA stone stairwells was indeed removed this year by the city. I hope that is not their version of a fix. It clearly indicates the need for the WPA Support Group. Click photo to enlarge.

reprinted from April of 2011

UPDATE JUNE 7, 2018: As a boy I played on the island and especially remember the concrete benches inlaid with tile. It was indeed a special place.  Although the island will never be restored, it is my mission that the remaining WPA structures be maintained.  In years past I have conducted tours of the WPA Structures, and will do so again if the park department does some restoration.  In the photo above, note the bench overlooking the stream and island,  with no weed wall in the way of the view.

ADDENDUM MARCH 24, 2025: I have started a new Facebook group call WPA of Allentown. If you appreciated Allentown's traditional park system,  please consider joining us.

A New Group For Allentown's WPA

My activism with the WPA began in 2009, when I started conducting meetings at the library. Later that year, with the help of few volunteers, we uncovered the Boat Landing in Lehigh Parkway. The next projects involved uncovering the stones lining the Spring Pond, and revealing the nearby miniature bridge. Cooperating with Karen El-Chaar, she secured funds from the Trexler Trust for the repair of the stairs in Fountain Park. I also conducted a couple tours of the Parkway with Karen. 

The original version of this group was kindly started for us by Steven Ramos. With the new Allentown Parknership deciding against my inclusion, I feel that it is time for friends of Allentown's WPA to organize. We will also advocate for the traditional park system, which also seems to be going by the wayside. Thank you for your interest. 

The above is an introduction to a new Facebook group dedicated to the WPA structures in the Allentown park system. 

Your membership in WPA of Allentown is most welcome.

Latino Festival In Allentown

Many readers of this blog know that I also administer the Facebook group Allentown Chronicles. Occasionally, I place a blog post on the group, if it is within the group's guidelines. Today's post actually originated on the group, and was placed there by someone else. 

The newly announced Latino Festival will occur on Hamilton Street May 18th. Called Fiesta On Hamilton, it is being sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Valley Health Partners, MEGA 101.7,  (Spanish radio station), along with the City of Allentown. The Chamber calls it a celebration of our culture. Although Latinos are now a majority in Allentown per se, I don't think that any one "culture" should be represented as "our" culture. In addition to this new Latino festival, we also have a Puerto Rican parade and a Dominican day. 

I've criticized Matt Tuerk for conducting too many flag raising days. I wonder how much Tuerk  and politics is behind this new festival?  Perhaps we could truly respect our diversity better by not putting certain ones in the more public spotlight than others.

A Promise Made Is A Promise Enforced

Recently, after being lobbied to do so, I did a post on Promise Neighborhoods and a critic. Not wanting to be an agitator, I chose my words to downplay the confrontation between parties. As the week progressed, the critic became tamer, lastly describing the confrontation as a manly conversation. 

Over the weekend, the critic's former personal page had disappeared from Facebook. Today's post isn't to rehash his previous complaints, but to note Promise Neighborhoods protecting its turf. It's my understanding that complaints from Promise succeeded in having the critic's page removed.

The local establishment is invested in Promise, from Tuerk through the Trexler Trust to Josh Shapiro. Apparently, the powers that be also choose to ignore any criticism of their investment.

ADDENDUM: The critic is Johnny Gomez. His organization is called Walk With Me. His current facebook page is Whatzz Tea

Allentown's Salt Of The Earth

Allentown is dependent in many ways on its dwindling stock of middle class homeowners, especially in the challenged neighborhoods, such as West Park and west of the library.  I've been informed on good source, that more and more of such former homes are becoming de facto rooming houses...that the city is turning a blind eye to landlords renting out rooms in single family houses. Although I've been told that there is a loophole in zoning allowing this, I haven't researched the ordinance. What is more important than the zoning, is the enforcement, or lack there of.

These new rooming houses increase the parking burden on legitimate neighbors, and generally decline the quality of life. What brings this situation to this blog's attention is the mayor.

These rooming houses are springing up in the mayor's own neighborhood, with his blessing. I suppose that from his progressive point of view, such a blind eye is reducing the housing crunch in Allentown. However, if bread and butter homeowners decide the increased density is too unbearable and move, Allentown loses in every way.  

South West Street, looking north

Justice Under Trump

Trump's speech on Friday afternoon should have had every lawyer there mortified. Imagine, the President of the United States inferring legal retribution against his perceived political enemies, at the Department of Justice no less! I understand that our 47th felt that the department was weaponized against him, but now he wants to wield the weapon?

The speech also reflected poorly on Pam Bondi, but her introduction of Trump suggested she is not overly encumbered by such shame. As Trump's campaign song by the Village People played at the end, it was clear that this man hasn't moved beyond the campaign. John Bolton says that Trump is purely transactional, and not interested in anything besides his own scores to settle. It's as if the country's future is being scored on a small golf card.

Trump started his speech wondering if it was inappropriate for him to be there?  That ended up being the most appropriate part of his speech. He told the assembled Justice employees that their department was just recently crooked and corrupt. He attacked the press, even the conservative Wall Street Journal, calling reporters scum. It will be interesting to see how long his appointees are willing to compromise their own legacies.