The renovation plan for the Cedar Creek Parkway defined the following goals to guide park improvements:

1. Highlight and enhance the park’s unique features: The Rose Garden, The Old Fashion Garden, and Lake Muhlenberg,

2. Provide a diverse variety of recreation opportunities to serve people of differing ages, interests, and abilities,

3. Protect and enhance the natural resources of the site,

4. Provide trails for recreation and fitness throughout the park and beyond to link to nearby recreation sites,

5. Improve the park for special events. The renovation plan is an overall vision for park improvements, not the end result.

Use the park map below to learn more about differnt areas of the park and view images of the planned renovations.  

The First Phase of development includes:

• Installation of a playground with features for children of all abilities. The playground was designed with the support of parents of children with disabilities. An important motivation in providing this active venue was a report that 48% of the children in Allentown are considered overweight or obese. The playground includes the newest in technology and also a youth fitness trail that was designed to draw and encourage children to play and exercise.

• Expanded and enhanced trail system. The trails will be renovated and bike lanes will be designated. This will help reduce impacts from flooding, provide a stable surface for bikes, strollers, and wheelchairs, as well as allowing the trails to be cleared of snow and open for year round use. Lighting will be added along the main trail to enhance safety and security.

• Picnic pavilions, used by families and civic organizations will be renovated. The existing picnic pavilions will be replaced by four new stone pillar structures that will reflect the unique history and character of the park.

• The Rose Garden will be renovated and restored. New walkways at the Rose Garden & Old Fashioned Garden will be added to make the site accessible for people with disabilities. The size of the gardens and rose beds will remain the same. New trellises will be added to enhance the setting and replace the existing deteriorating structures. New stone columns between the gazebos will serve as a new arbor into the garden for small ceremonies and photo opportunities. The reflecting ponds will be restored. The stone walls built in the 1930s have decayed and crumbled. We have restored the walls and will refill the reflective ponds with water, fish and aquatic plants.

• Replacement of three deteriorated pedestrian bridges.

• Introduction of a vegetative buffer along Cedar Creek to reduce flooding. New natural vegetation and flowers along Cedar Creek will help to reduce flood impacts, enhance water quality and promote reduction of sediment entering the stream.

Cedar Creek Parkway Improvement Map