The Allentown Band offers numerous concerts in the beautiful band shell in West Park every summer.
West Park officially opened September 17, 1908. At the highest spot in the city, it was purchased by Allentown in the 1880s with the intention of creating a reservoir. Never needed for that purpose, the site was a junkyard until about 1900, when it was converted to a municipal baseball field. General Harry Trexler was instrumental in turning the site into the present park, contributing over one-half of the funds necessary, including the costs of constructing the band shell. The park opened with an Allentown Band concert, which the band recreated on its 95th anniversary.
From points east and west of the Lehigh Valley, West Park is reachable easily from U.S. Route 22. Exit at 15th Street and head south. Turn right at Linden Street. Note that Linden Street, which runs along the south side of the park, is one-way west, while Turner on the north side of the park, is one-way east. Parking is available on the neighborhood streets, and sometimes in the lot of the Scottish Rites Cathedral, which is located just south of the park between Hamilton Boulevard and Linden.
Bring your own lawn chair, and come early, because the band often draws large crowds to West Park, especially on special occasions such as Independence Day and the band’s annual Salute to Albertus Myers concert.
For more about West Park, visit the West Park Civic Association website.
Google! ® Maps Directions to West Park
