The city of

Allentown, Pennsylvania Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Allenschteddel'', ''Allenschtadt'', or ''Ellsdaun'') is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 United ...

is nationally-known for its park system. Much of Allentown's park system can be attributed to the efforts of industrialist General

Harry Clay Trexler Henry Clay Trexler (April 17, 1854 – November 17, 1933) was an American industrialist, businessman, and major philanthropist who contributed to the economic development of Allentown, Pennsylvania and the surrounding Lehigh Valley in the late 19 ...

(1854-1933). Trexler had been inspired by the

City Beautiful movement The City Beautiful Movement was a reform philosophy of North American architecture and urban planning that flourished during the 1890s and 1900s with the intent of introducing beautification and monumental grandeur in cities. It was a part of the ...

in 1906 and chose to bring in B. A. Hamilton, a nationally known city park consultant. Haldeman provided the plans for the development of the growing city, and J. Franklin Meehan of

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

was the landscape architect who laid out the parks.Allentown, 1762–1987, a 225 Year history, Volume II, 1921–1987, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987. Allen Park, in the vicinity of

Trout Hall Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera ''Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salmonid ...

, was the first city park in Allentown, although it did not become city property until 1908. West Park, a park in what was a community trash pit and sandlot baseball field became the first public park established in an upscale area of the city. In 1906 General Trexler hired Meehan to lay out a park on the land, which opened in 1909. West Park features a

bandshell In theater, a shell (also known as an acoustical shell, choral shell or bandshell) is a curved, hard surface designed to reflect sound towards an audience. Often shells are designed to be removable, either rolling away on wheels or lifting into ...

, designed by noted

architect

Horace Trumbauer Horace Trumbauer (December 28, 1868 – September 18, 1938) was a prominent American architect of the Gilded Age, known for designing residential manors for the wealthy. Later in his career he also designed hotels, office buildings, and much of ...

, which has long been home to the

Allentown Band The Allentown Band is a civilian concert band based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest civilian concert band in the United States, having been in continuous existence since its first documented performance on July 4, 1828, although it ...

and other community bands. Soon afterwards, 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. In 1912, the city's first public playground was established at Fountain Park. During the summer vacation months, all

Allentown School District The Allentown School District is a large, urban public school district located in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The district is the fourth largest school district in Pennsylvania as of the 20 ...

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. After his death in 1933, Trexler's summer estate, a 142-acre tract was willed to the City of Allentown and was renamed Trexler Memorial Park. Today, the Harry C. Trexler Trust continues to provide private funding for the maintenance and development of Allentown's park system.

List of places

The following is a list of city parks and recreation facilities located in Allentown: Allentown Park inventory
/ref> * Allen Park : South 4th & West Union Streets : Map location: : Part of

and Lehigh Country Heritage Museum * Allentown Municipal Golf Course : 3200 block West Tilghman Street : Map location: : Public 18 hole golf course, clubhouse. * Arts Park : North 4th & West Court Streets : Map location: : On Allentown Arts Walk across from

Allentown Art Museum The Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley is an art museum located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1934 by a group organized by noted Pennsylvania impressionist painter, Walter Emerson Baum. With its collection of over 19,000 wo ...

, now home to a duo of monumental

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

statues by the French Painter and sculptor

Jean-Léon Gérôme Jean-Léon Gérôme (11 May 1824 – 10 January 1904) was a French painter and sculptor in the style now known as academicism. His paintings were so widely reproduced that he was "arguably the world's most famous living artist by 1880." The ran ...

, "Metallurgical Worker" and "Metallurgical Science" (1903) celebrating steel workers and the steel era * Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park : 510 West Linden Street : Map location: : Softball park, currently the home of the

Philadelphia Force The Philadelphia Force was a women's professional softball team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From 2006 to 2009, it played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league until a failed sale in September 2009 put an end to the team on hia ...

* Bucky Boyle Park : North Front and West Linden Streets : Map location: : Two baseball diamonds, large playarea * Canal Park : South Albert Street : Map location: : Large, wooded driving park between Lehigh Canal and Lehigh River with much 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 2d 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. Combination children's playground and asphalt parking lot * Hamilton Park Playlot : South Ott Street & East Texas Boulevard : Map location: : Large park. Two baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball court, children's play area, picnic and recreation area * Howard Keck Juniata Playlot : Keck & Juniata Streets : Map location: : Neighborhood playground, picnic and recreation area * Irving Park : North Irving and East Tilghman Streets : Map location: : Established in 1940. City Swimming pool, baseball diamonds, Basketball courts, picnic and recreation area * Ithaca Playlot : Ithaca & 31st Street Southwest : Map location: : Neighborhood playground, picnic and recreation area * Jordan Meadows : West Gordon Street & 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 & North Street Extension : Map location: : City public swimming pool. Large park with numerous baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, picnic and recreation areas along Jordan Creek * Joseph S. Daddona Lake and Terrace : South St. Elmo and West Union Street : 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 & North Front Streets : Map location: : Part of America On Wheels Museum *

Lehigh Parkway Lehigh Parkway is a large, 629-acre public park along the Little Lehigh Creek in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. It is the most prominent park in the city and follows the Little Lehigh Creek southward f ...

: Entrance at Park Drive and Ward Street : Map location: : Largest park in Allentown, 629 acres. Land acquired in 1929, developed by

Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, i ...

(WPA) during the 1930s, providing jobs during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

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 & 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 Street : Map location: : Children's playground * Old Fairgrounds Playground : 440 North 5th Street : Map location: : Neighborhood playground * Patriots Park (1939) : St. John and South Plumb Streets : Map location: : Baseball diamond, home of the Allentown Patriots softball team (1948-1976). Lights, stands, community building erected in 1957. * Percy B. Ruhe Park : Oxford Drive and Pearl Avenue : Map location: : Formerly Alton Park Recreation Area. Large park, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, picnic and recreation areas * Roosevelt Park : Camp and South Woodward Streets : Map location: : Seven acres in size. Includes baseball diamond, 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 has long circular driving road and large athletic field. Park area has scenic vista point from top of South Mountain * South Street Playlot : South & West Mosser Streets : Map location: : Neighborhood children' playground, picnic and recreation areas * Sterners Island : Island in Lehigh River, accessible only by boat : Map location: : Long, large wooded island. No amenities * Stevens Park : North 6th & West Tilghman Streets : Map location: : Former Stevens Elementary School. Neighborhood children' playground * Trexler Memorial Park : Springhouse Road : Map location: : Former summer home of General Harry Trexler. 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 only allowed in parking area by park entrance. * Trout Creek Park : South 4th and Harrison Streets : Map location: : Large park along Trout Creek. Long road though park, primarily wooded and grassy areas for picnicking and recreation, baseball field. * Turner & 4th Playlot : West Turner and North 4th Streets : Map location: : Primarily wooded and grassy areas for picnicking and recreation * Union Terrace : South St. Elmo Street : Map location: : Wooded area * Valania Park : South Law and Union Streets : Map location: : Also known as John Valeniz Park. Children's playground, basketball court, wooded area * Waldon Terrace Playlot : South Carbon Street : Map location: : Neighborhood children' playground, basketball court, recreation Field, picnic area * West Park : 1550 West Turner Street : Map location: : Elegant park with walking paths. Includes a community bandshell, now home of the

. The park includes ornamental trees flower gardens, and a large central fountain

References

External links

{{Allentown, PA Geography of Allentown, Pennsylvania Parks in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Tourist attractions in Allentown, Pennsylvania