The City of Allentown Department of Parks & Recreation in partnership with Friends of the Allentown Parks is hosting more than 3,000 volunteers participating in cleanups in 29 city parks and public spaces on Sunday, April 30 as part of the #LoveLehighValley initiative.
The Department of Parks and Recreation maintains 2,000+ acres of parkland in 43 parks, with 35 miles of trails. Volunteer projects assist with this monumental task to keep Allentown’s parks looking beautiful.
“I can’t thank the Friends of the Allentown Parks enough,” said Mayor Ed Pawlowski. “They have organized an army of dedicated volunteers that will be working in parks in every section of the city. We have great community partners in Allentown and the Friends are a prime example.”
“Allentown’s parks are the gem of the city, and maintaining them to the highest level is one of our priorities. Volunteer cleanup projects allow the Parks staff to be able to dedicate more time to improvement and renovation projects,” said Department of Parks & Recreation Director Lindsay L. Taylor. “We are fortunate to have a dedicated group in Friends of the Allentown Parks who actively engage the community to assist with keeping our park system looking its best.”
Friends of the Allentown Parks, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, care and promotion of Allentown’s parks system, has coordinated more than 3,000 volunteers to conduct cleanup projects in 29 locations:
- 5th St. Playground
- Andre Reed (Irving) Park
- Bucky Boyle Park
- Canal Park
- Cedar Creek Parkway
- Daddona Lake & Terrace (Union Terrace Park)
- Fellowship East Playlot (2nd & Hamilton sts.)
- Fountain Park
- Franklin Park
- Ithaca Playlot
- Jackson St. Park
- Jordan Meadows
- Jordan Park
- Juniata Playlot
- Keck Park
- Kimmet’s Lock
- Lehigh Parkway
- Lil’-Le-Hi Trout Nursery
- Lumber/Benton St. Playlot
- Mack Pool
- Mountainville Memorial
- Percy Ruhe Park
- Roosevelt Park
- Salisbury Drive Playlot
- South Mountain Reservoir
- South Street Playlot
- Trexler Park
- Trout Creek Parkway
- Walking Purchase Park
Participating community organizations include Faith Church, First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, the Allentown Library Neighborhood Association, Starbucks Coffee Company and Salisbury Township Environmental Advisory Council. Special thanks for cooperation with Salisbury Township and Lehigh County.
In 2016, more than 1,700 volunteers were engaged in a similar cleanup effort. This year’s cleanup efforts will focus on non-native/invasive species removal along Allentown’s creeks and streams within the parks system.
For more information or to be involved in future volunteer projects, visit www.allentownparks.org or “like” Allentown Parks & Recreation or Friends of the Allentown Parks on Facebook.
Information provided by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
