435 Hamilton Street  
Allentown, Pa. 18101  
Allentown  
Minutes - Final  
Recreation Board  
Thursday, May 1, 2025  
8:00 AM  
Bucky Boyle Recreation Building  
Roll Call  
Board Members & City Administration:  
Nancy Wilt (Chair), Julie Ambrose (Secretary), Rebecca Kiss, Dave  
Snyder, & Hamp Smith  
Parks & Recreation Staff:  
Bryne Heffner-Bair, Chris Hendricks, & Lucinda Wright  
Visitors: Ruffian Tittman (Allentown Parknership)  
Minutes  
April 3, 2025, Minutes Approval with no additional changes or  
additions.  
Motion made by Nancy, Seconded by Becki.  
Motion Carried  
Attachments: BOR April 3 2025 Minutes  
Communications  
Updates on potential new boards members  
Three people have submitted letters of intent to join the board.  
Several from the same neighborhood. 2 are on the Council Agenda  
next week; one doesn’t live within the city limits and isn’t eligible.  
Discussed the location of the June meeting - either Jack’s Slice  
(Golf Course) or the Cedar Pavillion.  
P&R Reports  
Reports were sent via email in advance.  
Various Project Updates  
Recent ribbon cuttings have been well attended.  
The Parks Master Plan meeting last night (4th one) had lots of new  
people which was great. Specific requests for Roosevelt.  
Cedar Pavillion work is progressing and should be ready by early  
June.  
Roosevelt pavilion assessment will be started at the end of this  
month.  
At Jordan skatepark, they are trying to find ways to minimize the  
amount of time the existing park is closed during construction but  
safety is a big concern.  
Boat launch  
Jordan Construction - hope to keep phase 1 of skate park open  
while working on phase 2. But, right now it is closed because of  
safety concerns.  
Dixon Street pedestrian bridge should be open by start of school.  
Attachments: May - Projects  
Recreation Updates  
Hiring is going well for playground instructors and pool staff.  
Concert series and movies being planned for summer.  
Special Events Updates  
Director/Deputy Director Updates  
Thanked everyone for hard work, attending the ribbon cuttings, etc.  
5/23 Block Parties at Irving Park - smaller than last year and more in  
the park.  
Special Events Season kicks off - 4th of July at Cedar Beach  
Nancy asked about water safety day?  
Partnership with YMCA is changing - trying to determine the  
partnership.  
Discussions around enclosing a pool with a bubble for fall  
swimming.  
Planning 20 Monday Fundays this year.  
Planning the fishing day with Lehigh Valley Center for Independent  
Living for September.  
Dave Question: Asked about baseball/softball.  
Julie asked about how baseball is going and involvement with Ortiz  
Arc Foundation. It seems to be a good partnership getting more  
students to play.  
Old Business  
New Business  
None  
Hamp - what’s happening at Fountain Park with the Pool house?  
Looking at options for pool house, to potentially remove it -  
Still gathering input from the community via the meetings, the online survey  
- encouraging input to shape the master plan.  
Last public meeting will be June 25th at 3:00 pm.  
They are working on the trail from Cedar Beach, through Fountain Park, to  
Jordan Park.  
This is all supposed to be a major connection point between the city and all  
parks including the D&L Trail.  
What is the plan at Valania? Signage about the history of the park. History  
sign of the park and areas adjacent. Hamp believes we should be  
representing the history of the area because the park was only built in the  
1970’s but the businesses that started in that area and the community there  
has significance and should be recognized.  
Special Events is working on this research; and needs to confirm vision of  
the Administration as well.  
Percy Ruhe signage is also being designed and there’s an effort to create  
a sort of template or format to build visual consistency in the parks.  
Perhaps consider a series of interpretive signs. These might be a lectern  
style with a little side bar. We are working on a format template.  
Fountain pool house was renovated for winter housing for the homeless,  
but now we’re not using it for that. Should the parks have a role in providing  
housing assistance?  
Da Vinci - Mission Astronaut exhibit coming in June - would be happy to  
work with Recreation and Summer Playground if there are opportunities. In  
the fall the traveling exhibit will be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Exhibit.  
Adjourn  
9:01 am