By Dr. Thomas Meade and Melissa Cachovic, Morning Call guest columnists On a rare weekday off recently, I was able to take a leisurely 2-mile walk with my daughter Melissa along our favorite Lehigh Parkway trail. We were absolutely absorbing the beauty and energy of the Little Lehigh and all its surrounding treasures and reminiscing about many things, including her first middle school fun run, ultimately transitioning to her Emmaus High School training ground for a few cross-country state championships and launching her to a Division 1 collegiate running career.
We started discussing our pet peeves that trouble us when walking the trails, but quickly shifted to the many more inspiring pleasures we experience here and would like to share these with you. We consider the Lehigh Parkway the Central Park of Allentown, only nicer. We would like to share our lists below, both generated in random order as we walked: Pet peeves: 1.
People walking on the left side of the trails. 2. Groups of walkers who consume the entire width of the trail, seemingly oblivious and annoyed when being passed.
3. Dog owners with unleashed dogs. 4.
Excessive length leashes, not retracted when cyclists or walkers approach. 5. Dog poop ignorers.
6. Uncontrolled multiple dogs on leashes. 7.
Cigarette smokers on park benches. 8. Head phones or EarPods precluding hearing people approaching from the rear.
9. Fishermen widely swinging fly rods. 10.
Casting from the trails into the creek. 11. Fishermen ignoring catch and release.
12. Litter. 13.
Speeding cars on Fish Hatchery Road. 14. A narrow, dangerous bridge and walkway in disrepair on Fish Hatchery Road.
15. Lack of a stop sign or speed bumps at the intersection of Keystone and Fish Hatchery roads. 16.
People making excessive noise. 17. After-dusk parking lot dwellers.
Now the fun list: 1. Stress relief and spiritual awakening upon arrival. 2.
Impeccable Allentown park maintenance. 3. Unique Fish Hatchery experience at the entrance.
4. Heightened sensory awareness of all nature and creatures. 5.
Activity at the bird sanctuary, even with thieving squirrels. 6. Nature preserve wildlife and plant variety.
7. Graceful swooping herrings. 8.
Coupled ducks and offspring. 9. Focused and skilled fly fishermen.
10. Permanent large and clever trout and palominos at the first walking bridge. 11.
Overwhelming politeness, smiles, waves and comradery of fellow runners, cyclists and walkers. 12. Historic covered bridge and multiple pedestrian bridges.
13. Magnificent cement arches supporting Route 309/Interstate 78. 14.
Occasional horse traffic providing nature’s fertilizer. 15. Varied terrain options for people and athletes of all ages, skill sets and goals.
16. Multiple single-track trails. 17.
Ample access points and parking. 18. Clear and clean water.
19. Cold water plunge options (Me: 42 degrees in January!). 20.
Lights in the Parkway. 21. Museum of Indian Culture and teepee.
22. Annual Roasting Ears of Corn Festival. 23.
Molly from Denali plaques highlighting Lenape Indian heritage. 24. Historic log cabins.
25. Home to Lehigh Valley Runners Club — spearheaded for years by iconic runners Bud Coats and Bart Yasso. 26.
Challenging hill climb behind the fish hatchery. 27. Instructional dry-land fly fishing.
28. Innumerable fun and competitive running events. 29.
Domesticated deer population. 30. “Love” graffiti.
31. Well-placed exercise bars. 32.
Frisbee golf options. 33. Accurate mile markers for runners/walkers.
34. Earth-friendly rest rooms. 35.
Sunbathers and family gatherings. 36. Dog swimmers.
37. Kayak lessons in manmade rapids. 38.
Well positioned and security of Allentown Police Academy. All of the above provide a wide variety of options to enjoy the park Gen. Harry Trexler had the amazing foresight to preserve in perpetuity over 100 years ago, for our enjoyment and to avoid development.
We should all pause and give thanks for his foresight and this wonderful tract of nature for all of us to enjoy. We should try to add to this pleasure list and hopefully refrain from contributing to the pet peeve list. Feel free to contribute your own peeves or pleasures.
Dr. Thomas Meade of Salisbury Township is an orthopaedic surgeon. His daughter, Melissa Cachovic, is a Lehigh Valley native now living in Bethesda, Maryland.
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