Allentown’s Midway Manor neighborhood concerned over future of beloved park | Allentown Area

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A meeting between Allentown’s Midway Manor neighborhood and some members of the Allentown school board was held Monday night.

A major project proposed by the city school district was discussed, concerning a park owned by Allentown School District, that is also used and maintained by the Midway Manor Neighborhood Association.

The Allentown School District is investing $1.6 million to build 10 modular classrooms to expand the Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Academy. The academy and a large park owned by ASD sit right in the center of the city’s Midway Manor neighborhood.

For nearly seven decades, the residents of Midway Manor have utilized and improved the park, but now school officials say those residents need a permit to hold events or sporting games there.

During Monday night’s community meeting, Allentown’s school board president Andrene Brown-Nowell listened to the neighborhood’s concerns about what happens when the district wants to expand beyond modular classrooms, along with the future of Midway Manor’s beloved park.

“My concern is what’s going to happen after phase one and when you say the community, it doesn’t matter what we think, we’re going to be outnumbered regardless,” said one resident.

Another resident, Eric Wilburn, grew up in Midway Manor and has taught at ASD for 30 years.

“I’m so afraid that when we lose, you can’t guarantee it’s going to stay and you can’t guarantee that it’s going to go, but when we lose our park we’re just going to be another section in Allentown that has nothing to be able to provide for kids, a safe place for these kids to go,” Wilburn stated.

Brown-Nowell asked residents how they could re-imagine the space if it came down to it.

“Everyone may not walk away with everything they want, but we all walk away feeling like there is a plan in place. That’s what I think will happen going forward,” Brown-Nowell said.

Both sides ultimately agreed that there needs to be better communication between the district and the neighborhood association.

“I’m sorry that the process for you guys has been difficult, but I’m hoping going forward that that changes,” Brown-Nowell said.

The Allentown Planning Commission will be hearing a proposal for the school expansion at its meeting on March 10.