Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell presided over a groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon for the Jordan Park Skatepark.

This skatepark will be built in two phases at a cost of approximately $1.5 million.

According to O’Connell, “We are pleased at this time to get Phase 1 underway at a cost of a little over $500,000 and an estimated completion time of end of summer.”

Approximately two-and-a-half-years ago the city received a $300,000 matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) for this project.

O’Connell said, “I want to again thank the Wolf Administration and our state legislative delegation of Senator Pat Browne and Representatives Peter Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg for their assistance in securing those funds.”

The Tony Hawk Foundation awarded the city a $10,000 grant for the skate park in 2019.

City Department of Parks & Recreation Director Karen El-Chaar said, “We are proud to add the Jordan Skatepark to our recreational offerings and look forward to welcoming our residents, visitors and the entire skateboarding community to this state-of-the-art facility.”

Members of the local skateboarding community had a hand in the design of this project along with the Allentown Board of Recreation and members of the public.

The work includes construction of an ADA accessible skate park, pedestrian walkways, stormwater management measures, landscaping, and other site improvements.  Fencing and signage will also be installed.

The skatepark is just one of the many improvements coming to Jordan Park.

The parking lot is being made more attractive and environmentally friendly.

Construction of the Jordan Creek Greenway Trail will begin this year, linking downtown Allentown through Jordan Park to Whitehall, allowing individuals to walk and bike the trail from downtown Allentown to the Game Preserve and beyond.

Last week, through the auspices of Non-Toxic Neighborhoods, the city received an award of $25,000 from the GIANT Company and Stonyfield Organics to move towards more regenerative and organic maintenance of green spaces in Jordan Park.

Grindline Skateparks of Seattle, Washington created the design of the skatepark and Spohn Ranch, Inc. of Los Angeles is building the park.

Information provided to TVL by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov

---