Allentown Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - May 20, 2026
Allentown Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - May 20, 2026
The Allentown Parks and Recreation Committee met on May 20, 2026, to consider several bills related to park improvements, funding appropriations, and code amendments. All bills were moved forward favorably.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A representative from Blue Zones and an advocate spoke in support of Bill 32, emphasizing the importance of prohibiting smoking near playgrounds to protect children's health.
- Michael Molovinsky inquired about plans to resurface the steps at the Robinhood double stairwell, a historic WPA icon, and requested the use of qualified masons for repairs.
- Jeannie Garcia (from Wawa at South 13th Street) expressed support for the Fountain Park plans but questioned the placement of rocks blocking access to the basketball court, noting that similar obstructions do not exist at other city waterway parks.
Discussion Items
- Bill 32: Amends the city code to prohibit smoking or vaping any substance within 25 feet of playgrounds, recreational fields, and courts. Committee members and public speakers highlighted the benefits for children's health. The bill was moved forward.
- Bill 37: Provides a supplemental appropriation of $100,000 from the Allentown Partnership for improvements to Ithaca Park (shade structure, playground additions, path connection, basketball court) and recreational programming (Monday Fundays with healthy food, learn-to-swim program). Moved forward.
- Bill 38: Transfers $50,841.45 from completed Dixon Street Pedestrian Bridge and Parks Master Plan accounts to the Bilgarts Bridge rehabilitation project to purchase additional timbers. Project expected to be completed by end of year. Moved forward.
- Bill 39: Provides a supplemental appropriation of $106,329 from the Pennsylvania DCED for constructing sidewalks connecting Mac Pool to a bus stop, improving accessibility. Moved forward.
- Bill 40: Provides a supplemental appropriation of $800,000 from the Pennsylvania DCED for construction of the MLK Trail extension phase one. Discussion included the need for a comprehensive trail map to show phases. The department agreed to create a map with timelines. Moved forward.
- Bill 41: Increases the capital fund by $1,905,000 for four approved parks capital projects: (1) design of a new park operations facility to replace the historic barn (currently rated D for employee safety); (2) safety surface replacement at Cedar Park; (3) balance of funding for MLK Trail construction; (4) concept planning for Fountain Park (repurposing the vacant pool based on public feedback). A detailed presentation and public comments were heard. Moved forward.
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved without discussion.
Key Outcomes
- All bills (32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) were moved favorably from committee to full council.
- The department will create a detailed map of trail phases and update the capital projects page on the city website.
- The department confirmed plans to repair the Robinhood double stairwell this year using Trexler funds, beginning with a historic how-to guide to ensure proper masonry work.
Updates
- Ms. Tolino announced upcoming events: the Urban Block Party and movie on Friday (May 22) at 2 PM, a free pool day, the launch of tap-to-pay for aquatics, an 88% return rate for aquatics staff, and a concert at Union Terrace with Low Cut Connie on Friday evening.
- She also thanked the Chamber and La Omega for the successful Fiesta event.
Meeting Transcript
Yeah, yeah. We got a bunch of volunteers for that. Yeah, everybody's coming over. No, I'm just lobbying. We would always resolve universities back there. Thank you for having me. Actually, Natalie, he's not gonna join on teams. He's in person. Um, not in person. Oh, he's gonna try to join council, but not sure. Okay, thank you. Uh with that being said, I will begin our parks and recreation committee. Um, myself and council person binder is present. Uh we have quite a bit on the agenda. Uh Ms. Ortega, Bill 32, please. Bill 32 amends the section of the code on alcoholic beverages, controlled dangerous substances, solicitation and gambling by prohibiting smoking or vaping any substance within 25 feet of playgrounds, recreational fields, and courts, including but not limited to baseball, basketball, football, handball, softball, tennis, volleyball, etc. Thank you. Uh Ms. Tolina. Good evening. Uh, thank you. I think there is someone here to speak on this as well from um Blue Zones who was part of the advocacy behind changing this code, which is a really beneficial code to protect young children that are playing on playgrounds and making sure that there's no second-hand smoke near the areas where children play in parks. So um it's a great step towards smoke-free parks to make sure that we have fresh air to breathe when we're when bringing our kids to the parks. Of course. Thank you. Um, any questions from well, I guess from from you, Mr. Bender. There we go. Any comments from um, I'm sorry, did you have some? Are we getting the presentation or is is he speaking? Are you speaking to any of this or I was not planning on speaking? Okay, I I just wasn't sure if I had a question from it. Yeah, if you if you had any extra information that you want to present, then feel free to hop in whenever. Um I'll just have a quick line. Yeah, yeah. Um, saying that this is not something that we brought to All Intown as a as a kind of you know, like something canned, and like it's not something that it's um that it's gonna benefit just a group of people, it's gonna benefit our kids. So we just wanted to make sure that everybody here understood that we just want to make sure that our kids in Alentown have access to the right amount of positive behaviors. Yeah, because that's the you know, that's how they learn, right? So you know, making sure that we have smoke-free environments for these kids to enjoy nature, it do enjoy you know, being outside. Um, it's always gonna be a positive thing for the city. So we thank you for the work you're doing. Thank you. I would like to say something, of course. Um I um I hope that this bill pass. I mean um we work really hard, you know, with Blue Son on this bill, and this is like he said before. Um, this is for you know, for all the children. Um it's really bad when you see um uh people smoking in front of children, you know, and they're breathing everything in not having a say. So this will be an opportunity to do something really big, you know, for for the community. Definitely, I hope he passes.
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