Allentown Arts Park, Allentown, PA
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 11:54AM Downtown Allentown Arts District, City of Allentown, Lehigh County, PA
Barry Isett and Associates worked with Zion, Breen and Richardson to develop a new public space within the City’s Arts District. Once a multi-story parking garage, the park is now a focal point to the Baum School of Arts, Allentown Art Museum and the Allentown Symphony Hall, as well as the terminus to the Allentown Arts Walk.
Services
- Design Development
- Reclaimed Site
- Civil Space
- Ornamental Lighting
- ADA Accessibility
- Irrigation System
- Construction Documentation
Completed in 2007, the park has two levels - the upper plaza set adjacent to 5th Street, which focuses on a lively fountain and overlooks the great lawn, and the lower great lawn which provides a large open space for special events and informal recreation. Granite clad seatwalls and plantings surround the great lawn, creating a more intimate setting within the dense urban fabric. Site furnishings, ornamental lighting and planters compliment the park. 
Located within a block of City Hall and the County Courthouse, visitors and employees find the park a welcome refuge from the hardscape of the city center. Students attending the Baum School and visitors viewing the collections at the Art Museum also enjoy expanded outdoor programs held in the park. In the winter, the city transforms the park into a winter wonderland with a large decorated holiday tree and landscape lighting.
Funded by various state grants, the park’s creative design and durable finishes will welcome seasons of enjoyment for future generations.