Allentown, Pennsylvania is nationally-known for its park system.
History Much of the initial planning and funding of Allentown's park system began in the early 20th century, supported by Harry Clay Trexler, a local industrialist who was inspired by the City Beautiful movement. Trexler brought in B. A. Haldeman, a nationally known city park consultant, to Allentown, and Haldeman provided the plans for the development of the growing city. J. Franklin Meehan of Philadelphia was the landscape architect who laid out many of the city's first public parks.Allentown, 1762–1987, a 225 Year history, Volume II, 1921–1987, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987.
In 1906, Trexler hired Meehan to lay out a park on the land, which opened in 1909. West Park features a bandshell, designed by Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer, which has long been home to the Allentown Band and other community bands. Soon after, it became apparent that a need existed for recreational facilities for children and young people. Meetings of the Allentown City Council were held about this and several proposals were presented and discussed.
Allen Park, located in the vicinity of Trout Hall, was the first city park in Allentown, although it did not become city property until 1908. A park in what was a community trash pit and sandlot baseball field became Allen Park, the city's first public park established in an upscale area of the city.
In 1912, the city's first public playground was established at Fountain Park. During the summer vacation months, all Allentown School District school grounds are open as neighborhood playgrounds.
Trexler also facilitated the development of Cedar Creek Park, the Allentown Municipal Golf Course and the Trout Nursery in Lehigh Parkway.
Following Trexler's death in 1933, Trexler's summer estate, a 142-acre tract was willed to the City of Allentown and was renamed Trexler Memorial Park. The Harry C. Trexler Trust continues to provide private funding for the maintenance and development of Allentown's public park system.
List of parks and recreation facilities The following is a list of city parks and recreation facilities located in Allentown: Allentown Park inventory
Allen Park South 4th and West Union Streets Map location: Part of Trout Hall and Lehigh Country Heritage Museum
Allentown Municipal Golf Course 3200 block West Tilghman Street Map location: A public 18-hole golf course and clubhouse
Arts Park North 4th and West Court Streets Map location: On Allentown Arts Walk across from Allentown Art Museum, now home to a duo of monumental bronze statues by the French painter and sculptor Jean-Léon Gérôme, "Metallurgical Worker" and "Metallurgical Science", painted in 1903, which celebrates steel workers and the steel-era that was an inluential Allentown-area industry for most of the 20th century
Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park 510 West Linden Street Map location: A softball park, currently home of the Philadelphia Force
Bucky Boyle Park North Front and West Linden streets Map location: Two baseball diamonds, large playarea
Canal Park South Albert Street Map location: A large, wooded driving park between Lehigh Canal and Lehigh River with substantial green space
Cedar Creek Park Along Parkway Boulevard, West End of Allentown Map location: Large park over 90 Acres, from Lake Muhlenburg west to Cedar Crest Boulevard. Developed in the late 1920s by Mayor Malcom Gross, Sr. Includes tennis courts, children's play area, Cedar Beach public swimming pool, Allentown Rose Garden, and large areas for picnics and recreation activities.
East Side Memorial Little League South Bradford and East Maple Streets Map location: Baseball diamond
East Side Reservoir South Halstead and East Union Streets Map location: Large area for picnics and recreation activities
East Side Youth Center 1140 East Clair Street Map location: Youth Center, baseball, soccer recreation fields
Fellowship East Playlot North 2nd and West Hamilton streets Map location: Neighborhood playground
Fountain Park Lehigh Street and Martin Luther King Drive Map location: Large, drive-thru park with public swimming pool, picnic, and recreation areas
Franklin Park 218 North 14th Street Map location: Former Franklin Elementary School and now a combination children's playground and asphalt parking lot
Hamilton Park Playlot South Ott Street and East Texas Boulevard Map location: Large park with two baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball court, a children's play area, and a picnic and recreation area
Howard Keck Juniata Playlot Keck and Juniata Streets Map location: Neighborhood playground and a picnic and recreation area
Irving Park North Irving and East Tilghman streets Map location: Established in 1940, including a city swimming pool, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and a picnic and recreation area
Ithaca Playlot Ithaca and 31st Street Southwest Map location: Neighborhood playground, picnic and recreation area
Jordan Meadows West Gordon Street and American Parkway Map location: Large park including tennis and basketball courts, running track, athletic field, wooded areas and picnic areas along Jordan Creek
Jordan Park Michigan Avenue and North Street Extension Map location: City public swimming pool and a large park with numerous baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, and picnic and recreation areas along Jordan Creek
Joseph S. Daddona Lake and Terrace South St. Elmo and West Union streets Map location: Formerly Union Terrace Park. Large, 21 Acre park built by WPA over a former mosquito wetland. Park features WPA built grass and stone outdoor amphitheater. Includes Union Terrace Lake, baseball diamonds and recreation fields, also areas for picnicking and recreation.
Keck Park South Austin Street Map location: Driving park loop though wooded area. also large grassy area for picnicking and recreation
Kimmets Landing (Lehigh Canal) Allentown Drive and North Dauphin Street Map location: Former Lehigh Canal lock. Wooded area, parking and small grassy areas for recreation
Lehigh Landing West Hamilton and North Front Streets Map location: Part of America On Wheels Museum
Lehigh Parkway Entrance at Park Drive and Ward Street Map location: Largest park in Allentown, 629 acres. Land acquired in 1929, developed by Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s, providing jobs during the Great Depression years. It is the most prominent park of the city and follows the Little Lehigh Stream for three miles. The park features many scenic exercising trails in addition to bridle paths, a shooting range, and many fishing locations.
Lumber and Benton Playlot South Lunber and Benton Streets Map location: Neighborhood Playground
Mack Pool 2100 Mack Boulevard Map location: City public swimming pool and recreation area
Mountainville Memorial Youth Association West Wabash and South 5th Streets Map location: Three baseball diamonds, large recreation field
Nice 13 Tot Lot West Jackson and West Union streets Map location: A children's playground
Old Fairgrounds Playground 440 North 5th Street Map location: A neighborhood playground
Patriots Park (1939) St. John and South Plumb streets Map location: Baseball diamond, home of the Allentown Patriots softball team (1948-1976), including lights, stands, and community building erected in 1957.
Percy B. Ruhe Park Oxford Drive and Pearl Avenue Map location: Formerly Alton Park Recreation Area, including a large park, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, picnic and recreation areas
Roosevelt Park Camp and South Woodward Streets Map location: Seven acres in size, including a baseball diamond and picnic and recreation area
Salisbury Dr Playlot 3025 Salisbury Street Map location: Neighborhood children's playground
South Mountain Reservoir and Park South 10th Street and Reservoir Road Map location: Reservoir area with long circular driving road and large athletic field with a park area that has a scenic vista point from top of South Mountain
South Street Playlot South and West Mosser Streets Map location: Neighborhood children' playground, picnic and recreation areas
Sterners Island Island in Lehigh River, only accessible by boat Map location: Long, large wooded island. No amenities
Stevens Park North 6th and West Tilghman Streets Map location: Former Stevens Elementary School, including a neighborhood children' playground
Trexler Memorial Park Springhouse Road Map location: The former summer home of Harry Clay Trexler that was deeded to City of Allentown after Trexler's death in 1933. Now large park with lake, long biking road, large grassy and wooded areas for picnicking and recreation. Wild game preserve, home of several hundred ducks, geese and swans. Motor vehicles allowed in the parking area by the park entrance but nowhere else.
Trout Creek Park South 4th and Harrison streets Map location: A large park along Trout Creek, including a long road though the park, which is primarily wooded and grassy and includes picnic and recreation areas and a baseball field
Turner and 4th Playlot West Turner and North 4th streets Map location: Primarily wooded and grassy areas for picnicking and recreation
Union Terrace South and Elmo streets Map location: A wooded area
Valania Park South Law and Union streets Map location: Also known as John Valeniz Park, includes a children's playground, basketball court, wooded area
Waldon Terrace Playlot South Carbon Street Map location: Neighborhood children's playground, basketball court, recreation Field, and picnic area
West Park 1550 West Turner Street Map location: Elegant park with walking paths, including a community bandshell, now home of the Allentown Band, and ornamental trees, flower gardens, and a large central fountain
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