Posts Tagged Save Our Parks
Sunday June 13th- Old fairgrounds Clean-Up
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on June 9, 2010
Last November, a group of volunteers spent a day mulching, weeding, and cleaning up the neighborhood park on 5th street. (Click on that for the post detailing the event.) It was a great day, and the best part of it was the fact that many kids from houses near the park came down and helped out. That is exactly why events like this are so important and why parks like this are so important in the areas they are in.
This Sunday, part 2 of the Old Fairgrounds Clean Up is set to take place. The event, like the first one, has been organized by and through Friends of the Allentown Parks and I want to thank Friends for doing it.
Now, while I realize this is short notice (4 days), I am hoping that a lot of you readers can make it out to lend a hand. I am creating a facebook event page as well. Let me know if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!
Check out these pictures from last time:
Guest Blog: Trail Surfaces by Camille Lore
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Read this on May 20, 2010
When I attended a week long Department of the Interior Trail Construction and Management class, I learned that even the most rocky, rugged and steep section of the Appalachian Trail at Harper’s Ferry could have been built to accommodate users with mobility challenges. Trail construction and planning has certainly changed since the 1960s.
Yes, even this section of trail could be designed so it could be used by someone in a wheelchair. 
Photo Credit- Jefferson County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
A well planned trail demands forethought and careful site evaluation. Today, the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia has obvious erosion and is not accessible to those who have mobility challenges. Of course, when the trail was planned and laid in the early 1900s, there was no National Environmental Policy Act or permits for that matter. There were no bobcats or mini-skids building the trail.
Today, trail layout and design needs to take a holistic approach to the site and its users.
Initially, the trail planners need to consider:
· Who will be using the trail?
· What land features exist?
· What soil types are present?
· What sensitive environmental features are on site?
· When will the trail get most use?
All, trails constructed today should be designed so they are accessible to users who have mobility challenges. With the specifications laid out in publications like the US Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines, a plethora of engineers and landscape architects, there is no reason for any trail to exclude those who are mobility challenged. In the same vein, please don’t think that users using mobility devices or child carriers want a perfectly smooth, pristine, boring trail either.
The US Forest Service’s standards direct that improved trail surfaces must be “firm and stable” to be considered accessible.
“Firm” is defined as “not noticeably distorted or compressed by the passage of a device that simulates a trail user in a wheelchair. Surface firmness should be determined and documented during the planning process for the seasons for which a trail is managed, under normally occurring weather conditions.”
“Stable” is defined as “not permanently affected by normally occurring weather conditions and able to sustain normal wear and tear caused by the uses for which a trail is managed, between planned maintenance cycles.” Their guidance continues to say that many materials including crushed stone, fines, packed soil and other natural materials can be used to provide a suitable surface for trails.
What is the setting of the trail? Will the trail be over a wetland or forested area? Is the setting more developed or less formal? What is the capacity of the group providing management and maintenance of the trail?
If the proposed trail is going in a small central park with simple vegetation and will only receive light use, is a 4 foot wide asphalt path really the right choice? Is there a budget and staff ready to repair cracks and replace degraded sections of trail, or would something like a crushed limestone path that only needs to be rolled out once a year be more appropriate? In terms of stormwater runoff coefficients, the two are nearly identical if there is no thought given to path shading and management of the velocity and quality of the runoff from the paths. If managed with recessed planting beds, either choice could be managed to provide improved stormwater quality.
Is grass a trail surface?
Grass is approximately 11% pervious. 11% may be less than you thought. However, grass will slow runoff and provide some mechanical filtration of particulates in stormwater. Concrete will not provide the same benefit and will also lead to heated stormwater runoff. Placed in the appropriate areas, grass certainly will adhere to the Forest Service’s qualifications of “firm and stable” while providing additional benefits.
Porous paving is working!
The myth that porous paving only works in areas where it is 70 degrees year round and salt isn’t needed on sidewalks is just outdated information! Porous paving is (and has been) working in the Philadelphia area for over 20 years. If a municipality is insistent on hard asphalt paths, would it be appropriate to use porous paving and underground infiltration? You bet.
Take a look at this demonstration of porous paving in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=848tZUL_rnI&feature=related
There are many options for trail surfaces. As long as they can adhere to the requirement of “firm and stable”, they can take many pleasing shapes and appearances-mulch, porous blocks, crushed stone, packed soil. The old idea of plopping down a plain asphalt path is not only outdated, but also demands more resources in the way of dollars and staff time than some of the more natural, less obtrusive materials. In the age of MS4 permits and requirements to clean up stormwater, more thought should go into trail surfaces than we gave them 20 years ago.
-Camille Lore has worked in municipal government and land use planning for the past 10 years. She is currently a grant writer for MadCityGrants (www.MadCityGrants.com), providing affordable, effective grantwriting for nonprofits in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Pennsylvania’s New Environmental Regulations
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on May 19, 2010
Yesterday news broke that the Pennsylvania State Environmental Advisory Board passed a new set of regulations for waterways deemed “high quality”. The rigorous standards have been set in advance of any Marcellus Shale drilling in the state, in order to help ameliorate the environmental damage such drilling would create.
Here in Allentown, as we are not on the Marcellus Shale, these regulations also include guidelines for the protection of “high quality” waterways with the use of natural vegetative buffers. This is the part of the new regulation which most directly concerns us.
As it stands, the Lehigh County Conservation District classifies Trout Creek, The Little Lehigh Creek and Cedar Creek as High Quality streams. Which would mean that in our parks, the creeks should be buffered with significant areas of vegetation.
There are no such buffers anywhere in our parks, save a few small places in Trexler Park.
None of this is news to any of you who have been reading my blog for a long time. I have been the town crier of riparian buffers for almost the entirety of my time as the author of Remember. Now, with these new state regulations in place, has the time finally arrived when we will see such buffers implemented throughout or park system?
I certainly hope so.
Suggestions: The Future of Lehigh Parkway (Part 2)
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Read this on April 21, 2010
Let me begin by offering what I consider to be a great potential future compromise. The three issues I believe are considered most important by the city in the planning process of park renovations are:
1. Ability for use and access
2. Scenery
3. Ecological Concerns
Having said that, I am going to call the following area Site 1 and I am going to offer a plan of development that I would think fulfills all three of those considerations. Site One is located to the left of the new pedestrian bridge by the Road Runners House: 
This site is a long strip of mowed grass, buffeted by an asphalt road on the right and a stream-side path of compressed gravel on the left. This site is heavily used both by walkers and fishermen.
My first idea regarding the future of this site is the complete elimination of the stream-side path from the edge of the pedestrian bridge to the parking lot. Now, I realize by saying this that I am running the risk of violating the interests of people who are concerned with issues 1 and 2. The compromise goes as follows.
The asphalt road maintains access and usability. It also provides stream vistas and given the availability of said vistas throughout the park, the loss would not be cataclysmic.
Now, onto part 2. That area of grass is home to at least one active and running stream. The water has been running across the gravel pathway for so long that it has eroded itself a channel. 
Areas of standing water have expanded around two active electrical units. 
Cattails, an invasive wetland species have begun to grow here as have other plant species considered wetland species such as watercress. The grass here is strikingly different and full of vetch and invasive ground ivy. There are very little places in this stretch where one can step without sinking into water.
The ducks know what is up. 
This area should become an official “grow zone” immediately. Without the lower path, a real wetland can develop here that, properly maintained would not be a bed of weeds but a beautiful area of vegetative growth analogous to the wetlands in Trexler Park and the area by The Fly Fisherman store on the other end of The Parkway.
I realize this provides an issue of access to the stream. Where the water table remains below the surface of the ground, mowed access points should be created to preserve not only access but the contrasting views of vegetation that are spoken of so highly in regard to the parks.
Assuming, at this point, that my suggestions have been implemented, I believe that what people will find would surprise them. First, not only would access still exist but an entire new beauty would be developed in the Parkway. This new area would serve as a great jumping off point for environmental education and I would go so far as to say it could be a learning lab.
This project would not change the Park in ways that would leave it unrecognizable. It would serve to enhance beauty, create habitat and most importantly, serve to end severe ecological problems.
What would you think of such a plan?
The Future of The Lehigh Parkway: Part 1 (And a New Video!)
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Read this on April 20, 2010
There are many competing ideas that go into the public debate regarding future construction projects in the city of Allentown. Around here, parks are personal. We all know our favorite parks, we know what park we grew up in, we know what park to visit on a first date. Being a citizen of this city makes you an immediate denizen of the park system.
It is because of this, that such fervor develops over specific ideas and implementations. Environmental advocates, like me, want to see specific ecological standards met. Recreationalists want to see the parks open in a way that serves their need for outdoor activity. Bicyclists want places to go to ride openly, joggers places to run. Some folks want to go to the park to see the scenery that has been there to see for as long as they have lived in Allentown.
All of these issues are in some way valid and in many ways backed up by a field of scientific research. Obesity, carbon emissions, watershed health. stress relief; purpose after purpose our parks exist to serve us and the ones that use them the most want to see them cared for.
These competing ideals can be met in a great compromise and over a series of posts for the next few weeks I intend to describe how such a compromise could work. I have chosen to do so in the Lehigh Parkway because, with no master plan on the table and major work needed to be done, a real conversation can begin to make sure that when the time comes, an informed citizenry can make a stand and hopefully, make a difference.
The first post will come in the next few days.
Today, readers I am asking you to leave a comment (and tell your friends to get on here and leave one too) about what you feel the future should hold for the Lehigh Parkway. Consider this post, in essence, to be an open mike of sorts. Don’t hold back, if you read and never comment, today is the day.
Whether you like what has happened at Cedar beach or not, the project has surely taught the city many lessons. Tell me what you think about the Parkway and in a few days, I’ll begin my official discussion right here.
In the meantime, here is a video of Spring in true fruition at South Mountain, The Lehigh Parkway and Cedar Beach, Please, watch and enjoy. I look forward to seeing some good comments.
You like poo-water?
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on April 18, 2010
Let me ask you a question readers, if you go to the Parkway, to Cedar Beach, to Trout Creek Parkway, to Jordan Park and really take a look at what is going on around you, can you honestly say to me that fixing the horribly eroded creek banks that are actively felling healthy trees shouldn’t be a priority? Shouldn’t native vegetation be allowed to grow to help deal with excess nitrogen runoff? The EPA thinks so, I linked to Federal guidelines for that very issue yesterday.
I am not on a fringe environmental soapbox here folks. I have seen the Lehigh County Conservation Maps rating our stream health (crappy) and our buffer presence (really crappy). I have done water samples in Cedar Creek and I know many others who have as well. The test I ran at Cedar Creek came back with ridiculously high amounts of coliform bacteria presence and 7 other tests confirmed it.
It was poo-water folks.
Realize, that is what we are talking about here:
Cedar Creek is becoming a nitrogen filled, oxygen barren, biomass empty, fish absent, channel of poo!
Is that the idyllic park vision so often spoken of here in Allentown, you know, the one General Trexler saw in the distance, past the edges of his flat brimmed straw hat?
I don’t freaking think so.
The places for people who want completely manicured vistas designed to look pretty are called gardens.
The places in our parks, with running streams, are active ecosystems that we have endangered.
You want a future of poo-water and drainage ditch canals where streams once flowed? Really?
I fully understand that any future rain garden won’t stop upstream runoff and the many sources of pollution outside the boundaries of the park. I do know, that in whatever space of garden construction, a small difference will be made. That difference, even if it is one butterfly, one bee, one snake, one trout is worth the work. It will help stem the development of a high quality low temperature stream into poo-water.
Drop the nostalgia act folks. Envisioning a candy land of manicured parks where people frolic freely enjoying the distinctions between mowed grass and willow trees is a waste of time. That time wasted, should be spent working to do whatever you can to help turn the tide of environmental ignorance that is widespread here in Allentown and begin the work to try and reverse years of ecological damage in our park system. Understand also, that our parks should have a contrast between open space and “grow zones”. I am not advocating the entire re-naturalization of our parks. It is not wilderness, it is a park and people belong in them. Aesthetically, there will still be contrast and no beauty will be lost, only gained.
I would be the last person on this planet to say we should ignore beauty. In fact our lives depend on it.
Riparian buffers 301: (Rain Garden Help Wanted)
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on April 17, 2010
The following appeared in 1993, published under the title “The Role of Riparian Corridors In Maintaining Regional Biodiversity”.this study was published by The Ecological Society of America and was written by: Robert J Naiman, Henri Decamps and Michael Pollock:
Pretty straight forward right?
It becomes increasingly obvious when a little research is done that the benefits of riparian restoration is without limit. Such restoration provides educational opportunities, increased wildlife habitat, increased biomass, creek temperature control, runoff mitigation, scenic vistas, etc etc etc etc, trust me the list could go on and on and on and on.
So, is there a genuine concern for the preservation and restoration of said vegetative corridors hiding behind the vitriol of the last few weeks worth of comments on here? I hope so. This is after all, the real issue. Yes, aesthetics are important. Yes, the appearance of the parks is important. Yes, the history of the parks is important and is something to be preserved.
None of these issues however is as important as the restoration of the riparian corridors in our parks. (And, for the record, riparian is defined as “ related to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse.)
I’m not talking about the skinny excuses of buffer zones made up of weeds and invasive plants (Multiflora Rose being the most rampant) in parts of the Parkway nor am I referring to the unmanaged buffer on Cedar Creek behind the mirror ponds that has developed over the last few years or the horrible knotweed dominated creek banks in Trout Creek Parkway.
I am referring to something we have yet seen in our park system although parts of Trexler Park come close.
I want to see some real riparian restoration in the parks with managed buffers that stretch to the maximum amount of feet possible given the location where planting takes place.
I want to see wading birds in Cedar Creek, in the Little Lehigh, in Trout Creek. I want to see fish swimming. I want to see butterflies, bees, snakes, songbirds, hawks; I want to see Nature when I go someplace to see Nature. I don’t want to see grass mowed to the edges of creek edges with eroded edges, little plant life, loosestrife, multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed, I don’t want to see sucker fish dominating sediment filled water dotted with the algae of excessive nitrogen and phosphorus run off.
Do you want to see what I want to see? Why wouldn’t you? I mean honestly, at this point that crucial balance of nature that is preserved by real riparian vegetation and restoration should be the best experience that is possible to be felt in our creek based parks.
Last summer I told a reader to visit a fountain in the mall if they want to experience a controlled, neutered, empty body of water. Such places have no place in our parks.
So, what can we do to change it? It isn’t like any us can magically transform not only the parks themselves but the hearts and minds of stolid Allentonians and city officials. We don’t have any money. To think that this would be easy, would be a happy-ass delusion and would serve to change nothing. This is going to be hard work readers and there is a lot of drudgery to go through before any small success is possible. Here, at step one, a small success is the best we can hope for.
Step One is education readers and as such, I am actively working on a plant list for the first (of what I am hoping are many) rain gardens in our parks. (Here, is the help wanted) If you know anyone who wants to work on setting this first example with me, if they know plants, if they know rain gardens, if they just want to help and learn, if they are in fact you, help me find plant donations, simply, please help.
Leave a comment, leave your name.
Here is Site Zero. This is where the first Remember Rain garden will be. 
As details develop, as plans are made, I will share everything with you right here on Remember.
Don’t forget, this isn’t something new folks. The establishment and maintenance of riparian buffer corridors has been recommend guidelines in the state of Pennsylvania since the 1970’s (at least). As much as renovations in the parks are decried by many, the real issue remains that the ecological health of our parks is in a timeless limbo of poor care, study and development. The real issue has to be addressed. Build this rain garden with me.
See Also:
If you click the Riparian Buffer tag under here, there are many posts that document the buffers in our parks, the issues within and many other journeys in vegetation.
Save The Parks: The Work Begins!
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on April 13, 2010
Today, as I announce these first two events, I am proud to say that the time to act has arrived. Each one of you can make a difference by helping out at these events. The time has come to raise a hand to help rather than open a mouth or computer page to complain. In order to begin to curb the “brain drain”, to rebuild the spirit of a city that seems so muted these days – a strong community identity must be redeveloped in earnest.
What better way to do it than by working together to make something special happen?
No one else is going to do it folks – “We are the ones we have been waiting for”
APRIL 25th: Old Fairgrounds
Last October work began in earnest to clean up the litter and re-mulch the flowerbeds in this park. We worked on a strangely warm afternoon and were joined by many neighborhood kids as the day went along. It was a great day for the local community.
As was this case in October, this event has been organized and sponsored by The Friends of The Allentown Parks.
I want to thank the dedicated work that has been done by Friends to not only get this project going but to get the ball rolling on volunteer and community building events across the city.
This time around expect to help by painting equipment, weeding and mulching beds, and removing litter. The event will begin at 1 PM.
Here is the link to the Facebook Event page.
MAY 9th: Bucky Boyle Park
The arson committed in this park last year was a genuine affront to the spirit of community and change that has been long developing in this neighborhood. There is no better place to keep the spirit of community, of change, of restoration alive than here at Bucky Boyle. It is one of Allentown’s first parks and for years, Riverfront Park was the destination for thousands of Allentonians. Now, within a new neighborhood and in the rusty shadow of former industry, the park is a bright spot in downtown Allentown.
I have organized this Litter Pick Up in coordination with Friends of The Parks, Allentown’s Solid Waste Management (who will be donating gloves, bags and pickers) and the neighborhood organizations that want to see Bucky Boyle remain the bright spot it had been. The event will run from Noon to 3PM and light refreshments will also be offered.
There is an awesome subplot here as well:
“After last fall’s arson, students at Sheridan Elementary organized a penny drive and raised over $700 towards the rebuilding of their beloved playground. “
This neighborhood is strong, and will become stronger and it is an honor to help it along the way.
We can and will begin to make a difference.
Here is the link to the Facebook Event Page.
I’m only getting warmed up….
SAVE THE PARKS
Last Night’s City Council Meeting: Save The Parks
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on April 8, 2010
Alright, first things first – The Trail Network Study:
The plan was given the green light by City Council by a vote of 5 to 2. Before you light a torch or grab a pitchfork, a very important and telling amendment was added. Before I get to that though, I want to remind my readers that I have and always have supported this plan.
As long as each plan is up for public debate before any construction takes place.
And,
That the environmental issues plaguing our park system are addressed first or concurrently.
That said, Councilman Donovan introduced an amendment to the resolution that was edited brilliantly by Councilman Schweyer. This amendment guarantees that before any construction takes place, an official public hearing is to take place. Councilman Donovan made it abundantly clear that he was upset over the manner in which the Cedar Beach construction planning process was handled, and he vehemently criticized the work as it currently appears. This amendment is the most important part of the trail plan’s passage.
This ensures that inclusive and rigorous public debate will take place each time a section is passed. Before dismissing this amendment, the first part of the trail plan went for approval last evening. The approval was to happen in order for the city to apply for the grant needed to fund the project.
Greg Weitzel, who supported the idea of public hearings, was immediately reminded by Councilman Schweyer that if the funding is secured, a public hearing will take place before anything else goes on.
Council President Mike D’Amore made it very clear that as a representative body of the voices of the citizens of Allentown, that such things were necessary.
City Council is doing this the right way and I congratulate them for it.
In addition, three grant approvals were passed by City Council last evening that will allow the city to apply for grant funding for a renovation of Stevens Park, an expansion of Jackson Street Park and the creation of a new park on a former PPL parking lot at 9th and Turner. That last park is great news, and will add a sorely needed green space to a highly urbanized area. Both Greg Weitzel and Mike D’Amore were very clear about the necessity of such projects and I very much support it.
I am meeting with Greg Weitzel on Friday and I will hopefully be able to share the master plans for those new park developments on Remember afterwards; I will definitely get as much information as I can and share it with you right away. I certainly have alot of questions, we all do. Feel free to leave me questions and I will try to get them answered during our meeting.
Following the intense debate of the Donovan amendment and the subsequent approval of the Schweyer edit, the public was allowed to speak their opinion regarding the project. I spoke and because of the debate, I had to abandon the previously written statement because a lot of it was covered already.
Flying by the seat of my pants, I told Council that there are serious environmental issues that need immediate attention in all of our parks right away. I told them that before any work can be done on this Trail Plan that these issues need addressing. I mentioned the construction at Cedar Beach and told them that it is environmentally dangerous I reminded them that the situation is dire across the entire system, and that we are in danger of losing our parks permanently. Closing my statement, I extended an invitation to any councilmember to accompany me on a walk in any of our parks so that I could show them what was really going on.
I extend that invitation to Council again today, and I also extend that invitation to anyone who has any kind of questions regarding the parks.
While no new resolution was passed to help achieve my goal of Saving The Parks, it is my belief that last night our City Council took a major step forward in the control of future park developments. Public input is now guaranteed. If this is truly followed through, and I believe it will be, this was a great thing to happen to the public with regards to City Council.
What this amendment also does is makes sure we all stay involved. When these drafts come to hearing we have to get our voices out there and make sure that the right things happen both aesthetically and environmentally. I will post every meeting, hearing or otherwise right here on Remember and if you need a ride, I will find you one. If we stay involved, and join or voices together, we can use these hearings to make sure that the parks are saved from the conditions they are in today.
As I said above, I will be meeting with Greg Weitzel on Friday and expect a full interview regarding Cedar Beach and the entire park system this weekend. (Hopefully including the details of the plans to fix the WPA steps by Fountain Park and in Irving Park. Greg told Molovinsky that the work was to be done this year, we’ll see)
The work is just beginning. We will save the parks.
Before I go, last night I was appointed by City Council to the vacant seat on the Environmental Advisory Committee for the City of Allentown. The vote was 7-0. I want to thank Council for my approval and allowing me this great opportunity to start doing the work needed to be done. Nothing I write on here will ever have anything to do with the EAC, I just wanted to let you folks know. I am very excited and humbled by Council’s words and decision.
Save The Parks.
To the city of Allentown: Save Our Parks
Posted by Andrew Kleiner in Uncategorized on April 6, 2010
Please leave a comment with your name below, I will consider it a signature and present this to city council on Wednesday Evening.
To Allentown City Council, Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Greg Weitzel:
Unaddressed environmental issues continue to persist and worsen inside the parks of Allentown. Firmly established guidelines have been dictated as suggested practice by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The specific problems faced in each park need real solutions, and they need them now. I implore you, as leaders of the city of Allentown to begin the process of change that will result in seeing these issues addressed.
No Mow Zones and proper riparian buffer systems need to be expanded and properly maintained starting this summer in all parks in Allentown. Volunteer groups should be established to maintain these areas.
Further construction in the parks of Allentown that does not address the environmental negligence need to be halted until such a time when these issues are corrected permanently.
I request that formal consideration be given to a new park planning process that would see these issues addressed in the immediate future and that the process is conducted entirely with public input and participation.
I hope that all of you care deeply for the park system here in Allentown; the legacy of which you now all control. For years, Allentown has been known as Pennsylvania’s Park Place, and in their current state, our parks are not to be proud of.
The far reaching goals of the Trail Network Study, while necessary, can only be implemented when the environmental issues in the parks are corrected. I and other concerned and informed citizens can only support the implementation of that plan after the needed work is completed.
You all have the chance to make a real and lasting difference here in the city of Allentown. You can set the environmental example that should be followed by municipalities across the country.
Seek consultation from scientists and professors at local colleges for ideas and plans. It is my belief that such consultation will come at no cost to the city.
Our parks are at a crossroads, and it is up to you to make sure they end up on the right path.
Save Our Parks.
-Andrew Kleiner
NEW VIDEO FROM CEDAR BEACH- LESSONS LEARNED:
SEE ALSO:
Save Our Parks: The First Step
Save Our Parks: The Call to Action
Save Our Parks: The Long History of Allentown and Environmental Negligence
Save Our Parks: Lehigh Parkway
Cedar Beach Construction 2010: Part One
The Future of Our Parks: Video Post
To Pave or Not to Pave
January Thaw 2: Cedar Beach Parkway (New Paving)
2009: Riparian Buffers
Cedar Beach Update From Greg Weitzel
Planting the Riparian Buffer at Cedar Beach
Cedar Beach Parkway: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and The WHAT?
