Parks committee advances $100K reimbursement, sidewalk and trail grants and a $1.9M parks borrowing request

The Parks & Recreation Committee advanced five capital-related items and an account-cleanup transfer at its most recent meeting, sending them to the full council for further consideration.

Bill 37 authorizes a $100,000 supplemental appropriation from the Allentown Partnership to reimburse the city for improvements and programming at Ithaca Park. Parks staff said the funds will pay for a permanent shade structure, improved play features and a path connection to South Mountain, upgrades to a basketball court and summer programming that includes learn-to-swim activities and healthy food at Monday events. The bill was moved and seconded and advanced favorably by voice vote.

Bill 38 authorizes a $50,841.45 transfer from accounts tied to the completed Dixon Street pedestrian bridge and parks master plan projects into a rehabilitation project referenced in the discussion as the Bogerts (transcript uses multiple spellings). Staff described the action as an accounting adjustment to purchase additional timbers and allow the project to be closed out; the committee moved the transfer forward by voice vote.

Bill 39 provides a $106,329 supplemental appropriation from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to construct sidewalks that will connect the Mack Pool parking area to a nearby bus stop and improve pedestrian access to Mack (Mac) Pool. Staff said the grant will fully fund the sidewalk work and committee members and public commenters emphasized the safety benefit for children and neighborhood walkers; the committee advanced the bill favorably.

Bill 40 implements an $800,000 LSA grant from the state to support construction of phase 1 of the MLK Trail. Parks staff reported design is nearly complete and the department hopes to bid the project this year. Committee members asked for clearer phase maps and staff said they will work with GIS to produce a detailed map that shows phase locations and approximate timing. The committee voted to move the funding forward favorably.

Bill 41 requests an increase of $1,905,000 in the 2026 capital fund to support a package of parks capital projects as part of the 2026 capital borrowing. Parks leadership described four priorities: a park operations facility to replace an inadequate, historic barn workspace used by roughly 47 staff; replacement of safety surfacing at Cedar Park (which staff said has reached the end of its useful life); funds to advance the MLK Trail construction balance; and initial design work for Fountain Park (including planning for pool and restroom work and public-engagement steps). Staff emphasized the current operations facility lacks ADA-accessible routes and adequate restrooms and said the design phase funded by this request would produce stamped engineering estimates to inform any subsequent construction request. Committee members confirmed that construction funding would return to council after design and the committee moved Bill 41 forward favorably by voice vote.

Public commenters asked about related work: Michael Malovinsky asked whether resurfacing of landings and steps at Robin Hood (Lehigh Landing) is in this year’s budget; staff said design is underway and construction is expected in the next year or so and that funds were previously allocated to the account. Jeanne Garcia of 208 South 13th Street urged attention to Fountain Park’s history and accessibility, asking whether recently placed rocks blocking parking will be removed to improve access to the basketball court; staff said they want people to use park amenities and are balancing crowding concerns with access.

All moved items were advanced from committee by voice votes and are scheduled for further action by the full council. The committee also approved the meeting minutes and heard summer-event announcements before adjourning.