wpa stairs

I drive up and down Martin Luther King Drive in Allentown frequently. I always see these stair built by the WPA during the Great Depression. Part of Roosevelt's rebuilding plan. Every time I drive past I say, I must climb up those stairs.

Today was the day.

We parked at Fountain Pool, crossed the street and headed up the stairs. There's 88, and at the top it Ys off. We went right where there's more stairs. The other side is more ramp like. For the most part the stairs are in good shape. But there's a few spots where the rocks are missing. They do need a little TLC but I'm guessing the city has no money for that. Too bad. They'll crumble like the limestone kilns in Coplay and Alburtis.

We turned to go up 10th street, and it was a hill. Bonnie says I've taken her up worse in South Bethlehem. I tested out the technique for walking up hills we learned and it didn't work. Maybe I was doing something wrong.

We headed out Walnut to 12th, then up 12th and around Union Cemetery. They sustained a lot of storm damage and have been cutting trees and stacking the wood between tombstones.  As much as I love trees, those are dying and should come down. The storm exposed the extent of their decay.

We returned to Hamilton via 10th street and headed toward the courthouse. 

The hole for the Hockey arena is at least 1 square block big, and at least three stories, if not more, deep. We turned on Court, went thru the art park, around the art museum, and down Fourth past Trout Hall, which was decorated for Christmas. We crossed by the Parkettes and followed the trail back to the car.

Just over 3.5 miles.

When we came back, we walked the dog and added another half mile.