ALLENTOWN, Pa. — There Stevens Park sits, at the intersection of danger and hope.
A jewel of a playground in a neighborhood where folks in bracelet-connected rowhomes would like nothing more than for their children to enjoy sliding boards, a basketball court, friendship and fresh air without worrying about hearing sirens and a terrorizing knock on their door.
On Wednesday, the Parks and Recreation Department continued sprucing up the park at North 6th and Tilghman Streets which has been closed the past two weeks for upgrades and repairs to the seven-year-old park.
Shortly before an official ceremony hosted by Mayor Matt Tuerk to celebrate the improvements, maintenance supervisor Tom Regec’s crew was still hard at work, cementing over the area of a repaired water main break below a drinking fountain.
The crew deep-cleaned playground equipment, patched worn-out surfaces below play areas and removed deadwood from dying trees. A park spring cleaning to prevent its fall.
The city and the neighborhood are intent on cleaning up Stevens Park — in ways other than picking up trash.
"We’re going to address the issues that exist across the city that make our public spaces not as friendly as we need them to be."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
From the mayor to the police chief, to grassroots community groups, the more impactful cleanup at Stevens Park is an effort to eliminate perpetrators of crime there.
That cleanup is far from over.
“Our central message today is, we’re not giving up,” Tuerk told a large gathering at the park. “We’re not giving up on the city of Allentown.
"We’re going to address the issues that exist across the city that make our public spaces not as friendly as we need them to be.
“We’re going to make the infrastructure investments we need to make to make our parks welcoming; we need to invest in the community through recreation programs to make them welcoming; we need to continue to support the people who are struggling in our city to make sure our parks and public spaces are welcoming to all.”
Stevens Park has long been a destination for drug dealers. In 2022, a 15-year-old boy was shot to death by a 16-year-old at the park in broad daylight.
And while incidents of drug deals there, as well as a drop in crime overall in the community, have decreased, the work to clean up the park continues.
Turn back the clock
Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca loves the city. Grew up on the Southside. He remembers when parks and playgrounds were safe havens.
He’s intent on turning back that clock.
“Our parks and playgrounds are jewels of the city,” Roca said. “If bad things happen here, we’re going to come with strength and the law and hold people accountable.
“Today, this is not a photo op (for the cleaning up of the playground equipment); we’re here to affect real change. Yes, we have reductions in violent crime. But we can do better.”
‘Jail changed me’
Ray Morales was at the park. He cleaned up — himself.
The Bethlehem native and Allentown resident spent five years in prison for dealing hard drugs in his 20s, went down a dark road and couldn’t find an off-ramp. Morales said jail changed him, and calls himself a healer.
“I try to show kids today what not to do and who not to be,” said Morales, 42.
Morales is a member of the Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, an anti-racist, liberation-based, grassroots community organization in Allentown.
Jeani Garcia, PNLV director of operations, said the group's mission is to liberate the community from drugs and violence and give the residents there a sense of belonging and hope.
Morales and other PNLV members visit parks and schools educating children on how to avoid going down that long dark road.
“I want to give the kids the direction I didn’t get,” Morales said. “I grew up with my aunt; my mother had a drug problem, and my father wasn’t around.
“I can help those kids become a better person, show them how to avoid the things that can ruin their lives. We want kids to come here to this park to play and have fun, not to end up where I did.”
Starting Monday and on the two subsequent Mondays, Stevens Park and other parks in Allentown will be humming with art, music, cookouts, yoga, boxing classes and sports.
At Stevens Park, the intersection of playtime and protection.
