ALLENTOWN, Pa. — About two dozen residents met Wednesday night in the basement of an Allentown church to help plan the future of the city’s park system.
Lively group discussions — and a few space heaters — warmed up the community room amid temporary heating issues at Ripple Church, where a Bucks County firm held its latest event to gather community input.
Parks throughout Allentown need better gateways and routes between them to encourage their use.Residents at Wednesday's meeting
Simone Collins Landscape Architecture is in the midst of a series of forums as it works to develop a master plan to guide the city’s parks over the next 15 years.
Wednesday night’s meeting, the third of five planned events, revealed a common issue at parks across Allentown: connectivity, or the lack thereof.
Residents at each of four geographic breakout sessions called for the master plan to include better gateways into parks and routes between them to encourage their use.
They also recommended pedestrian-safety improvements and more parks-based programs, such as festivals and concerts.
Master plan in the works
Allentown officials hired Simone Collins Landscape Architecture to develop a 15-year master plan for the city’s recreation and open spaces.
It also is tasked with creating detailed plans for Bucky Boyle Park, Fountain Park and Roosevelt Park.
The firm is scheduled to hold its next parks meeting April 30 at Theatre 514, with the final meeting set for June 25 at Fearless Fire Company. Several meetings with a committee of city officials also are slated.Simone Collins Landscape Architecture
The firm is scheduled to hold its next parks meeting April 30 at Theatre 514, with the final meeting set for June 25 at Fearless Fire Company.
Several meetings with a committee of city officials are also slated.
But Simone Collins employees are expected to also participate in an Easter Egg Hunt on April 19 at Bucky Boyle Park and the city’s Earth Day celebration April 26 at Cedar Beach Park as they continue to seek residents’ input for the parks’ plans.
The company and officials hope to earn Allentown City Council’s support for those plans by the end of the year.
