Allentown Municipal Golf Course

Allentown, PA

Client/Owner: City of Allentown

The Allentown Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole bent grass course serving the area since the 1950s. The Cedar Creek (part of the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed) winds through the course. Approximately 40% of the upstream area has been developed, causing an increase in storm water runoff volume. The stream is trying to achieve a new equilibrium, resulting in severe bank erosion. The City had concerns about total sediment and pollutant loads entering the Creek as well as its impact on waters further downstream.

In 2001, BIA's Environmental Services Department provided grant-writing assistance to help the City obtain $305,000 in Growing Greener funding from the state Department of Environmental Protection to stabilize and restore 4,100 feet of the severely eroded streambank. BIA designed a plan to stabilize the streambank through more natural methods and managed the project.

In another project, the BIA Structural Engineering Department was asked to inventory and evaluate the 12 bridges that cross the stream throughout the golf course. BIA's report concluded that, with one exception, all bridges were in serviceable condition and required only minor repairs or maintenance. Engineers prepared a design to replace the faulty bridge. The new bridge was designed with a 25-foot span to accommodate pedestrian, golf cart, and maintenance vehicle traffic with a load capacity of 26,000 pounds.

Design Dates: 2002-2003
Construction Dates: 2003

Grants: Growing Greener grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection