435 Hamilton Street  
Allentown, Pa. 18101  
Allentown  
Minutes - Final  
Recreation Board  
Thursday, September 4, 2025  
8:00 AM  
Bucky Boyle Meeting Room  
Roll Call  
BOR Attendance: Nancy Wilt, Julie Ambrose, Ana Tiburcio, Ray Nunez,  
Rebecca Kiss, Mike Comick, Josh Novak, Dave Snyder, & Dave  
Eddinger.  
Staff Attendance: Bryne Heffner-Bair, Mandy Tolino & Brit Kholi  
Visitor: Ruffian Tittman  
Minutes  
May 1, 2025, Minutes Approval with no additional changes or additions.  
Motion made by Becky  
Seconded by Dave  
Motion Carried  
Attachments: BOR June 5 2025 Minutes  
Communications  
Introductions were made to welcome our two new members, Dave  
Eddinger and Ray Nunez.  
There is one more open seat. Josh and Julie are serving in expired terms  
and need to be reappointed. Five additional members have terms  
expiring next year. Nancy will make sure members are contacted to  
reapply for appointment.  
P&R Reports  
Various Project Updates  
refer to the update documents provided.  
A few highlights:  
·
Repairing the boat launch at Canal Park -  
vehicles were getting stuck. Trying to do a quick fix for the  
season; then a more substantial repair in the off season.  
Franklin Park - got 5 proposals for design.  
·
·
·
·
Golf course - bunker project is completed.  
Skate Park - concrete poured for the first bowl.  
Next Wednesday is the next public meeting for the parks  
master plan.  
·
Dixon Street Bridge - design was approved; manufacturer is in  
production; trying to get a date for installation. Goal is to finish  
prior to the start of school.  
Recreation Updates  
Recreation Highlights  
·
Summer Hires are getting oriented; no issues  
with staffing; 2 pools are open.  
Playgrounds are ready for summer programming.  
Still hiring Field Rangers; have 3 interns in place.  
Summer basketball registration ends tomorrow.  
Juneteenth Activities planned.  
Concert Series began; moved to Active Life in bad weather.  
High number of pavilion rentals.  
Hosting MLB Pitch, Hit & Run in partnership with Allen High  
School.  
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Movies in the Park started - Wicked at amphitheater tomorrow.  
Monday Funday a huge success at Stevens Park; 40 kids at  
Trout Creek.  
·
·
·
Youth Wrestling starting for boys & girls this summer.  
Yoga Fest - weather dependent - well organized.  
Meeting with Da Vinci - hope to have the mobile fab lab in the  
parks this summer.  
·
·
·
·
Dental Van going to the parks this year.  
Recruiting for Adventure Camps.  
Planning 4th of July for the park only - no programming in JBC.  
Allentown Shows Up Today - new partnership with the Mayor’s  
Office - going to neighborhoods.  
·
Saturday, June 28 (Rain date 6/29) - big celebration in Stevens  
Park for new full court basketball courts funded through the  
Parknership.  
Special Events Updates  
Director/Deputy Director Updates  
Old Business  
None  
New Business  
·
Becky - what can be done about the poison hemlock that is spreading in  
many of the riparian buffers and beyond in the parks? Unfortunately, it  
spreads quickly. City sprays twice a year. Mandy will check with  
Maintenance Team; but Ruffian offered that this is a challenge in other  
parks too. Even though it is invasive, it serves the purpose of holding  
soil/water. Sometimes the cure isn’t better than the situation we have.  
So, the question becomes, is the removal worse than keeping it?  
Josh - got clarity on the Allentown City Facebook/Instagram pages - to  
see skateboard pictures and videos of the project.  
Ray - What is the plan to deal with residents who become agitated at  
the pools? The manager situation was revamped this year to have more  
experienced adults with training in de-escalation; and not leave younger,  
less experienced staff to handle these situations.  
·
·
·
·
Dave E. - great to hear all of the programs and upgrades.  
Julie - welcomed Dave and Ray who bring terrific experience to the  
Commission.  
·
Nancy - Fundraiser for Pete at Inkwell with a Jazz Singer at 5:30 pm - all  
invited.  
Adjourn  
motion made by Josh/ Seconded by Becki. Meeting adjourned at 8:56 am.