Friends of the Allentown Parks, Inc.

Allentown Halloween Parade & Trick or Treat Night update...

Robin Hood (Catalina Ave.) Bridge Closed to Pedestrian and Vehicle Traffic The Robin Hood (Catalina Ave.) Bridge in the city of Allentown’s Lehigh Parkway is closed to all pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic until further notice. The bridge, accessed via the S. 15th Street/Lehigh Street park entrance, suffered extensive damage due to flood waters resulting from Tropical Storm Isaias and barriers now block the bridge entrance.... The Robin Hood (Catalina Ave.) Bridge parking lot is inaccessible and disc golfers, pedestrians and other visitors are advised to park at the Lehigh Parkway North parking lot. The best alternative access to the disc golf course is over Schreiber’s Bridge at Lehigh Parkway North (off Martin Luther King Drive). In addition to the bridge, flood waters washed out much of the Lehigh Parkway trail system. Parks maintenance staff members are working diligently to restore trails. Park visitors are urged to use extreme caution when utilizing pathways. Although trails remain open, the Robin Hood Bridge is closed until further notice. For additional information and resources, residents and visitors are encouraged to contact the Parks & Recreation office at 610-437-7757 and/or follow the department on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @AllentownParksandRec.

The Allentown Dog Park is now open!

Anyone up for a game of pickleball?

We regret to advise that the 2020 Allentown Woofstock event has been cancelled.

Due to issues related to COVID-19 this event has been cancelled.

The latest news...

ALLENTOWN RE-OPENING SOME PARK AMENITIES The Allentown Department of Parks and Recreation will re-open the Allentown Dog Park, Keck Skate Park as well as tennis and handball courts on Friday, June 5. In anticipation of Governor Wolf’s lifting of the stay-at-home order and pronouncement of Lehigh County’s movement to yellow status, the following amenities will re-open effective June 5:... Allentown Dog Park at Dixon Street current members only Keck Skate Park Tennis Courts Andre Reed Park Roosevelt Park Handball courts Jordan Meadows Jordan Park Keck Park Percy Ruhe Park Playgrounds, pavilions, basketball and volleyball courts as well as sports fields remain closed. The Department of Parks and Recreation will continue to monitor local, state and federal guidance regarding further opening of park amenities and recreation activities. The public is reminded to follow COVID-19 CDC guidelines which are posted throughout Allentown’s park system. Please check regularly for updated information regarding the status of Parks and Recreation programs and facility usage at www.allentownpa.gov/parks, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/allentownparksandrec or by calling 610-437-7757.

LEHIGH CANAL EMERGENCY REPAIR COMPLETED Emergency repairs to the Lehigh Canal in Allentown have been completed and the canal reopened today. Joao & Bradley Construction Company of Bethlehem was awarded a $126,750 contract from the city of Allentown on April 14 to make the emergency repairs which included replacing a 17-foot deep manhole.... The canal failed on April 6 in the area of Lock No. 1 off the Lehigh River and drained through the bottom to a broken more than 100-year-old 42-inch stone arch cross culvert. The repair work prevented a possible catastrophic failure of an underlying cross stone arch culvert pipe which would have resulted in higher replacement and retirement costs for the existing pipe. City engineering prepared a design solution, scope of work and related tasks which were submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and approved for an emergency permit. The repair work included a new manhole and 36-inch high density polyethylene pipes (HDPEP) watertight pipe installation and ultimately filling the broken pipe with a flowable fill to prevent further failures. The new manhole facilitates the design and corrects other existing pipe and manhole failures on the east bank of the canal. The work was completed in less than one week well ahead of schedule.

LEHIGH CANAL EMERGENCY REPAIR CONTRACT A Bethlehem firm will perform emergency repairs to the Lehigh Canal in Allentown. Joao & Bradley Construction Company has been awarded a $126,750 contract from the city of Allentown to make the repairs which include replacing a 17-foot deep manhole.... The canal failed on April 6 in the area of Lock No. 1 off the Lehigh River and is draining through the bottom to a broken more than 100-year-old 42-inch stone arch cross culvert. Ongoing deterioration of the underlying cross stone arch culvert pipe could lead to a more catastrophic failure and higher replacement and retirement costs for the existing pipe. City engineering prepared a design solution, scope of work and related tasks which were submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and approved for an emergency permit. The canal repair must include a cofferdam and canal flow pipes in order to isolate the canal water away from the failure zone/sinkhole area prior to proceeding with a new manhole and 36-inch high density polyethylene pipes (HDPEP) watertight pipe installation and ultimately filling the broken pipe with a flowable fill to prevent further failures. A new manhole facilitates the design and corrects other existing pipe and manhole failures on the east bank of the canal. The cofferdam, manhole replacement, cross pipe and flowable filling of the existing stone arch culvert must all be performed as one continuous operation by one contractor as the cofferdam and cross pipe must be manipulated by the constructing contractor in order to cross the canal. The estimated time to complete the cofferdam and restore canal flow is within the next two weeks. The estimated time to complete the installation of the new cross pipe beneath the canal, construct the new manhole, and fill the failing stone arch culvert with flowable fill is less than six weeks. The canal is closed for recreational purposes, but Lehigh Canal Park remains open to visitors.

Allentown parks are still open, however, PLEASE follow CDC guidelines. (Almost all park amenities are now closed - playgrounds, pavilions, fields, basketball courts, Dixon St Dog Park, Keck Skate Park.) Thank-you.

LEHIGH CANAL TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RECREATION The Lehigh Canal in Allentown is temporarily closed for recreation purposes. A stormwater pipe failure resulted in significant loss of water in the area of Lock No. 1 off the Lehigh River. It appears a pipe in the middle of the canal broke pulling all of the canal water into the storm pipe. The Allentown Parks Bureau and Department of Public Works are working diligently to address the issue. ... The public will be advised when the Lehigh Canal is once again open for recreation activities. Although the canal is closed, Lehigh Canal Park remains open to visitors.

ALLENTOWN PARK PAVILIONS CLOSED The city of Allentown is closing all park pavilions during the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency. City officials observed large groups at park pavilions this past weekend despite Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s social distancing order. The governor is urging Pennsylvanians to avoid large groups and maintain a six-foot distance between individuals to prevent the spread of COVID-19. ... Pavilion closures include: Bucky Boyle Park Cedar Beach Franklin Park Jordan Park Keck Park Lehigh Canal Park Lil’-Le-Hi Trout Nursery Pavilions at Honochick Drive: Rose Garden #1 Rose Garden #2 Rose Garden # 3 South Mountain Reservoir Stevens Park Valania Park On March 18, the city suspended all pavilion rentals at city facilities until May 1, 2020. Existing scheduled renters have been notified regarding rescheduling of events or issuing of refunds. No further permits are being issued at this time. Allentown’s parks remain open and visitors are reminded to heed the CDC guidelines posted at each facility.

With Governor Wolf's inclusion of Lehigh and Northampton Counties under stay-at-home orders, individuals may still engage in outdoor activities such as "walking, hiking or running if persons maintain social distancing" As you enjoy Allentown's parks, please be sure to dispose of bottles/litter in the receptacles provided and help keep our parks litter-free. Thank-you!