Official Comprehensive Recreation & Open Space Plan
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Official Comprehensive Recreation & Open Space Plan Saucon Region Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County & Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County Adopted: October 24, 2006 RothPlan Harry B. Roth, AICP Recreation & Parks Solutions Susan & Steve Landes, CPRPs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The consultants for this project would like to acknowledge those members of the Study Committee who contributed to the preparation of this Plan: Member Affiliation Joel Katz Saucon Valley School Board Jack Cahalan Manager, Lower Saucon Township Hazem Hijazi Lower Saucon Township Environmental Advisory Council Glenn Kern Lower Saucon Township Council Member John Lynch Saucon Valley Youth Organization John Noble Lower Saucon Township Planning Commission Caroline Pennington Saucon Valley Community Center Bill Ross Lower Saucon Township Parks & Recreation Gerry Szakmeister Lower Saucon Township Planning Commission Willard Cressman DeSales University Robert Fulford Upper Saucon Volunteer Fire Dept. Donald Harakal Southern Lehigh School District Robert Kassel Asst. Manager Upper Saucon Township Steve Rivers Southern Lehigh Youth Sports Stephen Wagner Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors Joyce White Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors Sharyn Yeakel Upper Saucon Township Staff Liaison This project was financed in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, under the administration of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. All maps presented within this Plan rely upon digital data of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s geographic information system. While the accuracy of this information is believed to be very high, it should only be used for community planning purposes and cannot be relied upon for definitive site survey delineation. Lower Saucon Township Upper Saucon Township 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike 5500 Camp Meeting Road Bethlehem, PA 18015 Center Valley, PA 18034 Ph. (610) 865-3291 Phone: 610-282-1171 Fax – (610) 867-3580 Fax: 610-282-3557 www.lowersaucontownship.org www.uppersaucon.org This project was prepared by the following consultants: Harry B. Roth, AICP 1681 Crown Ave. Recreation & Park Solutions Lancaster, PA 17601 218 S. Spruce St. Ph:717-291-0927 Lititz, PA 17543 Fax:717-291-0928 Phone/Fax: (717) 627-7861 www.rothplan.net Email: [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................i-ii Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................A-B I. Introduction .......................................................................................................................1-2 A. Purpose............................................................................................................................................1 B. How to Use This Plan ...................................................................................................................1-2 II. Study Goals .......................................................................................................................3-6 A. Planning Goals.................................................................................................................................3 B. Facilities Goals.................................................................................................................................4 C. Administration and Public Involvement Goals ................................................................................5 D. Personnel Goals ..............................................................................................................................5 E. Maintenance Goals..........................................................................................................................6 F. Financing Goals ...............................................................................................................................6 G. Recreation Program Goals..............................................................................................................6 III. Community Background ................................................................................................7-43 A. Regional Setting...............................................................................................................................7 B. Local Governments.....................................................................................................................8-10 C. Municipal Budget Information...................................................................................................11-12 D. Historic Population Growth............................................................................................................13 E. Historic Housing Growth................................................................................................................14 F. Population & Housing Projections.................................................................................................15 G. Other Socio-Economic Characteristics .........................................................................................16 H. Regional Fiscal Health and Major Employers ..............................................................................17 I. Existing Land Use..........................................................................................................................18 Existing Land Use Map......................................................................................... following page 18 J. Natural and Cultural Features ..................................................................................................19-43 Prime Farmlands.......................................................................................................................19-20 Natural Features Map........................................................................................... following page 19 Steep Slopes..................................................................................................................................20 Woodlands .....................................................................................................................................21 Floodplains................................................................................................................................22-23 Wetlands ...................................................................................................................................23-25 Natural Habitats & Other Significant Natural Features............................................................25-29 PA State Highlands...................................................................................................................30-31 Special Protection Waters ........................................................................................................32-33 Historic Sites .............................................................................................................................33-36 Cultural Features Map .......................................................................................... following page 33 Archaeological Resources.............................................................................................................36 Inactive Railroad / Trolley Lines ...............................................................................................37-39 Major Utility Rights-of-Way .......................................................................................................39-43 IV. Recreation & Parks System Profile.............................................................................44-79 A. Recreation Administration ........................................................................................................44-45 B. Parkland & Recreation Facilities ..............................................................................................46-55 Parks Map ............................................................................................................. following page 46 C. Recreation Programs................................................................................................................55-59 D. Park Maintenance, Security and Accessibility....................................................................59-62 E. Finances....................................................................................................................................62-65 Southeastern Park Profile..............................................................................................................66 Steel City Park Profile....................................................................................................................67 Town Hall Park Profile ..................................................................................................................68 Polk Valley Park Profile .................................................................................................................69 South Mountain Park Profile..........................................................................................................70 Upper Saucon Township Park Profile...........................................................................................71 Saucon