Allentown, Pennsylvania is nationally-known for its park system.
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.[1]
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.[1] A 6.59acres park in what was a community trash pit and sandlot baseball field became Allen Park, the city's first public park[2] established in an upscale area of the city.
In 1912, the city's first public playground was established at Fountain Park.[1] 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.[3]
The following is a list of city parks and recreation facilities located in Allentown:[4]
South 4th and West Union Streets
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Part of Trout Hall and Lehigh Country Heritage Museum
3200 block West Tilghman Street
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A public 18-hole golf course and clubhouse
North 4th and West Court Streets
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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
510 West Linden Street
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A softball park, currently home of the Philadelphia Force
North Front and West Linden streets
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Two baseball diamonds, large playarea
South Albert Street
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A large, wooded driving park between Lehigh Canal and Lehigh River with substantial green space
Along Parkway Boulevard, West End of Allentown
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Large park over 90 Acres, from Lake Muhlenburg west to Cedar Crest Boulevard. Developed in the late 1920s by Mayor Malcom Gross, Sr.[1] Includes tennis courts, children's play area, Cedar Beach public swimming pool, Allentown Rose Garden, and large areas for picnics and recreation activities.
South Bradford and East Maple Streets
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Baseball diamond
South Halstead and East Union Streets
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Large area for picnics and recreation activities
1140 East Clair Street
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Youth Center, baseball, soccer recreation fields
North 2nd and West Hamilton streets
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Neighborhood playground
Lehigh Street and Martin Luther King Drive
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Large, drive-thru park with public swimming pool, picnic, and recreation areas
218 North 14th Street
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Former Franklin Elementary School and now a combination children's playground and asphalt parking lot
South Ott Street and East Texas Boulevard
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Large park with two baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball court, a children's play area, and a picnic and recreation area
Keck and Juniata Streets
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Neighborhood playground and a picnic and recreation area
North Irving and East Tilghman streets
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Established in 1940,[1] including a city swimming pool, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and a picnic and recreation area
Ithaca and 31st Street Southwest
Map location:
Neighborhood playground, picnic and recreation area
Map location:
Large park including tennis and basketball courts, running track, athletic field, wooded areas and picnic areas along Jordan Creek
Michigan Avenue and North Street Extension
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City public swimming pool and a large park with numerous baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, and picnic and recreation areas along Jordan Creek
South St. Elmo and West Union streets
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Formerly Union Terrace Park. Large, 21 Acre park built by WPA over a former mosquito wetland.[1] Park features WPA built grass and stone outdoor amphitheater. Includes Union Terrace Lake, baseball diamonds and recreation fields, also areas for picnicking and recreation.
South Austin Street
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Driving park loop though wooded area. also large grassy area for picnicking and recreation
Allentown Drive and North Dauphin Street
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Former Lehigh Canal lock. Wooded area, parking and small grassy areas for recreation
West Hamilton and North Front Streets
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Part of America On Wheels Museum
Entrance at Park Drive and Ward Street
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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.[1]
South Lunber and Benton Streets
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Neighborhood Playground
2100 Mack Boulevard
Map location:
City public swimming pool and recreation area
West Wabash and South 5th Streets
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Three baseball diamonds, large recreation field
West Jackson and West Union streets
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A children's playground
440 North 5th Street
Map location:
A neighborhood playground
St. John and South Plumb streets
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Baseball diamond, home of the Allentown Patriots softball team (1948-1976), including lights, stands, and community building erected in 1957.
Oxford Drive and Pearl Avenue
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Formerly Alton Park Recreation Area, including a large park, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, picnic and recreation areas
Camp and South Woodward Streets
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Seven acres in size,[1] including a baseball diamond and picnic and recreation area
3025 Salisbury Street
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Neighborhood children's playground
South 10th Street and Reservoir Road
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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 and West Mosser Streets
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Neighborhood children' playground, picnic and recreation areas
Island in Lehigh River, only accessible by boat
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Long, large wooded island. No amenities
North 6th and West Tilghman Streets
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Former Stevens Elementary School, including a neighborhood children' playground
Springhouse Road
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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.[1] Motor vehicles allowed in the parking area by the park entrance but nowhere else.
South 4th and Harrison streets
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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
West Turner and North 4th streets
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Primarily wooded and grassy areas for picnicking and recreation
South and Elmo streets
Map location:
A wooded area
South Law and Union streets
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Also known as John Valeniz Park, includes a children's playground, basketball court, wooded area
South Carbon Street
Map location:
Neighborhood children's playground, basketball court, recreation Field, and picnic area
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