The Lehigh Parkway was always my favorite park. My first go around with these Park Logs in 2009 was highlighted by my various adventures and escapades in this massive urban park. As I began to research and educate myself about the ecology and environmental science going on in these places, it was in the Lehigh Parkway that I became so disheartened by the conditions of our park system.
Three years later and not much has changed in the Parkway. What has changed has changed for the worse. Before I get to Part One, I want to say that of all the parks here in Allentown the Parkway has the most pure potential for an amazing ecological restoration that would be a legitimate destination. I’ll speak about that after I get through the whole park over the next few days. For now though, once again, let’s dive back into the Lehigh Parkway…
(Part One begins at the pedestrian converted bridge and continues on the right side of The Little Lehigh, through Bogart’s Bridge and back to the parking lot. )
After crossing the bridge, and meandering down the gravel hill, this walk begins next to one of the most ecologically interesting places in the entire Allentown parks system. There is a spring here that runs with regularity from around this time of the year until the dry spells of summer come round in August. Today, I will spare you my sermon on the spring but I will tell you that I am working on some major projects for the site and I really hope to share news with you soon! Below are the pictures of the spring site taken yesterday. 
The story of this Park Log is erosion. I can literally think of nothing that left an impression on me more than the erosion I saw on my walk through this part of the Parkway. That and the unbelievably ridiculous four foot wide grass swatches alongside the creek, like the ones over at Cedar Creek Parkway. I am going to keep this short and let the pictures speak for themselves but before I end this post, there was a particular occurrence that happened down there yesterday that I want to tell you about.
So, I am strolling up to Bogart’s Bridge wondering what the hell this is about:
And, I hear it. Being that it is February, despite the 60 degree afternoon temperature the park was a rather quiet place yesterday. That’s why when The Great Blue Heron yelled across the treetops, I froze where I was standing. It seemed so foreign and out of place and that is something I hope doesn’t become a trend in the years to come although I fear that it will.
Look through the pictures. Look at the damage. You cannot think this is okay. Also, it smells like sewage throughout the park… more on that tomorrow.
To wrap this up:
