List of city parks and recreation facilities of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Little Lehigh Parkway, the largest park in Allentown, built during the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project

The city of Allentown, Pennsylvania is nationally-known for its park system. Much of Allentowns's park system can be attributed to the efforts of industrialist General Harry Clay Trexler (1854-1933). Inspired by the City Beautiful movement in 1906, Trexler brought 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 was the landscape architect who laid out the parks.

Allen Park, in the vicinity of Trout Hall, was the first city park in Allentown, although it did not become city property until 1908. West Park, a 6.59-acre (26,700 m²) 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, designed by noted Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer, which has long been home to the Allentown Band 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 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.

The following is a list of city parks and recreation facilities located in Allentown:

• Allen Park

South 4th & West Union Streets

Map location:

Part of Trout Hall 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

• Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park

510 West Linden Street

Map location:

Softball park, currently the home of the Philadelphia Force

• 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

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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

• Little Lehigh Parkway

Entrance at Park Drive and Ward Street

Map location:

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.

• Lumber & Benton Playlot

South Lunber and Benton Streets

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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

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Three baseball diamonds, large recreation field

• Nice 13 Tot Lot

West Jackson and West Union Street

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Children's playground

• Old Fairgrounds Playground

440 North 5th Street

Map location:

Neighborhood playground

• Patriots Park (1939)

St. John and South Plumb Streets

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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

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Seven acres in size. Includes baseball diamond, picnic and recreation area

• Salisbury Dr Playlot

3025 Salisbury Street

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Neighborhood children's playground

• South Mountain Reservoir and Park

South 10th Street and Reservoir Road

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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

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Neighborhood children' playground, picnic and recreation areas

• Sterners Island

Island in Lehigh River, accessible only by boat

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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

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

See also

• Historical and Notable Sites in Allentown, Pennsylvania