Category Archives: Lower Macungie Township

Lower Macungie Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. As of the 2010 Census, the township had a population of 30,633.[1]
Lower Macungie is the fastest growing area of Pennsylvania in terms of total population growth[citation needed] and is undergoing rapid suburbanization. Some fast-growing areas of the township include Ancient Oaks, Brandywine Village, Brandywine Village 2, Hills at Lock Ridge, Millbrook Farms, and Shepherd Hills. Its villages include East Texas, Minesite, New Hensingersville (also in Berks County,) Weilersville, and Wescosville.
In November 2007, township voters elected to make Lower Macungie a first class township in 2008.

Parks & Rec comprehensive plan kickoff meeting 9/17!

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Parks & Rec comprehensive plan kickoff meeting 9/17!

  

Next Monday September 17th will be the Township Parks & Recreation comprehensive plan kickoff meeting! The township recieved a grant to fund planning as part of the Greenway Project. Lower Macungie Township has been the fastest growing municipality in Pennsylvania for the last decade with tremendous residential growth resulting in a population change of approximately +12,000 residents since 2000 representing a 40% increase.

Why now: The last Comprehensive Recreation Plan was prepared in 2000 prior to the most recent population surge. Currently the township owns28 parks and most of the 500 year floodplain surrounding the Little Lehigh River and Swabia Creeks. (Credit should be given to previous supervisors and township leadership for aggressively collecting floodplain over the years.) Since the last plan we have also constructed the community center and hired a Recreation Director.

Since so much has changed so rapidly in the township over the last 10 years a comprehensive review of our Parks system makes alot of sense at this time. For ex. I’ve been extremely supportive of creating a township supported dog-park funded largely by private donations and fundraising. This is a great example of an idea that can be explored within the context of reviewing all 28 of our township parks to find the best potential future home for a possible dog park.

Outcomes: As part of this review we’ll be able to assess any needs our community may have that aren’t currently being served, the strengths of our system and identify any weaknesses. It’s important to note our current Parks and Recreation committee has done an excellent job over the past few years identifying a 5 year plan and budgeting for on-going park maintenance. The upcoming comprehensive review will only give the committee more resources and strenghten their ongoing efforts by tying the process into the larger budget picture more clearly.

Participate! We need the public to come to the kickoff meeting! It will be held at 6pm on Monday the 17th. There will be opportunities to voice your feedback, thoughts and your take on the future direction of our parks system. I hope to see you there!

Macungie Farmers Market should collaborate with LMT

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The Macungie Farmers Market is closed tomorrow for another car show. On Thursdays I usually try to take a walk over (my work is across the street) in the evening. Even if I don’t buy anything if it’s nice out I still enjoy the stroll and usually bump into someone I know. (though I usually can’t resist and end up buying something… I never regret it.)

I was thinking this morning. Lower Macungie Township currently does not have a farmers market. Other local communities do. Emmaus for one has a great one. No doubt its a great local asset.

I’m guessing but off the top of my head there are 4-5 weeks during the summer when there is no market due to car shows or other events in the park.

Wouldnt it be great if either LMT or Macungie stepped up and proposed a partnership to co-sponsor the market and for LMT to host it on weekends when Macungie Park is not available? The LMT community center is a stones throw away from Memorial Park.  I have no idea if this is feasible or if it’s something the farmers market association/borough/township would entertain. But if you’ve read my blog you know I’m a huge supporter of cooperation/sharing of resources between the boroughs of Alburtis, Macungie and LMT. (Regional police dept.) It simply geographically makes a ton of sense.

You could very easily split up the contributions made by each municipality by taking the number of weeks in the summer and dividing by the number of weeks LMT would host the market. LMT could contribute that amount for the weeks it hosts. The amount would be very very small. The market could then have a home during the weeks the park is unavailable and it would benefit from co-marketing. LMT would benefit from the co-branding. FYI Macungie borough’s contribution to the market currently is 5,000 dollars a year. A cost of less then 2 bucks per borough resident. The market also accepts donations in the form of sponsorships by local businesses. Well worth it in my opinion.

Just a thought….

 The Macungie Farmers’ Market is a producer/grower market committed to providing locally grown, fresh food; to preserving our agricultural heritage; and to building community.  The Market helps support local agriculture by connecting farmers with consumers.  This means that you buy directly from the farmers and artisans themselves, not from third parties or re-sellers. Since all vendors are producing these products for you, they can often explain best handling and preparation methods and are always willing to offer FREE advice.