I need your help.

Things are really very different this time. As you know (or probably don’t know), I have an event coming up this Saturday – May 4^th – at Jordan Park. In the days and weeks leading up to the Kleiner events of yore, I was able to post for weeks – on a daily basis – to drum up interest and attract a crowd. These days, I am finding that weeks are in fact passing without a single post. 

The thing is, I really do look forward to these events and I do work hard on them behind the scenes. Well, even more behind the scenes than a tiny little webpage in some odd corner of the odder internet somewhere near the clinking roll of digital tumbleweeds… So yes – the digital tumbleweeds are clinking loudly on the idle pages of Kleiner’s blog these days. And now, with just a few days remaining before the event – I need to shake that clink to a fervor of interest.

It is part of my night job as Outings Chair for the Sierra Club. It is also a part of what makes me – me. This is what I do. This time around though – I need your help doing it. I have made a few passionate facebook posts regarding the event but those posts seem to not have had much of an effect… I haven’t had any new joiners on the Facebook event page..

Here is what I am asking from you to help me get these thing along:
1. Go to this facebook event page
2. Click on Going
3. Invite your friends.
4. Share as a status.

And, here is why.

We have a chance to make a real difference down there on Saturday. It’s a heavily used park and a park heavily in need of a helping hand. Invasive species have grown amok. Litter is as frequent a denizen as grass in large swaths of the creek banks. We can help the Parks department and Friends of the Allentown Parks keep our “jewels” pristine. We can also have fun doing it. I’m a pretty fun dude. (Just don’t ask anyone for confirmation on that)

So yes, let’s do this. Share this post. Share the event. Send an email.

Spread the word.

Preserving what we have conserved: Jordan Park

Going out somewhere, I am usually carrying a camera (well, an I-phone these days) and looking for a narrative. I occasionally have an idea as to what I want to write but most of the time, my ideas are waylaid by the experience of the adventure and I end up creating something I did not expect to create. Leaving work the other day, after the weather had gone from winter to summer in the blink of the eye of a brown bat, I went to Jordan Park in Allentown with a story in mind. I wanted to talk about the weather and our feeling perspective of seasonal changes.

Instead, I found a new mission statement in the midst of the perspective I wanted to avoid with my return to blogging and civic engagement. My walk in Jordan Park began with a smile. The basketball courts were occupied, some folks were playing a game of pick up baseball, kids were daring each other to stick their feet in the creek, and fishermen were populating the banks of the stream with lines cast. If ever a greater expression of the purpose of city parks were displayed in Allentown, I surely have not yet seen one.

The smile faded fast (as you probably guessed). The striking presence of litter in the riparian zones fast went from not okay to appalling. This blog post is not going to be about why the litter gets left – but instead about what we can do to clean it up. In addition to the litter, the green of spring had yet to spread but the color was found on the already thriving Poison Hemlock. This guy is a particularly awful invasive species – it is fast colonizing, fast to seed, and it contains a neurotoxin that should be familiar to anyone who knows of the end of Socrates.

What do you do then? What can be done? I tried for years on here to figure out an answer to those questions. I waxed philosophically about parks and their purpose. I gathered people to events to remove invasive species and to pick up litter. These questions remain and are ringing louder and truer than they did even at the onset of my first adventure four years ago.
Look at the pictures that accompany this post. You know that something must be done. For my second event as Outings Chair of The Sierra Club Lehigh Valley Chapter I am happy to announce a litter pick up and invasive species removal at Jordan Park on Saturday May 4^th at Noon.

Here is the link to the Facebook Event Page (Weather forecasts, program updates, press!)

This is about Preserving what we have conserved. See you there.

Sierra Club Hike at The Lehigh Gap

When I began planning for my hike at the Lehigh Gap last Saturday, I spent a significant amount of time trying to decide what narrative I wanted to share with the folks who came out. There are so many options regarding that area, it actually felt a little daunting. Local history, geologic history, air pollution and its consequences, ecological restoration, migratory birds, climate patterns, and well, there is actually more when you think about it long enough.

I think I tried to talk a little bit about everything I listed above to everyone who came out. I thought about posting a series of pieces about those issues but I am pretty sure that I would need to start an entire Lehigh Gap blog to do so adequately.

I want to say thank you to the folks who came out for our adventure on the mountain last Saturday. Since beginning these walks, talks, cleanups, and whatever else – the people that have come out for them and created new stories together have always made the effort worth it. This time around, I was really happy to have a group of very inquisitive young minds in tow that had many questions and were excited to be outside and to learn some new things. (They taught me some things as well. Computer class in the second grade?)

On Saturday we were lucky to have the cold of the morning pass to a warmer afternoon that felt less like the promise of Spring and more like the real thing. We were able to walk a trail on the ghost of a rail line, on hills that were ecologically and physically destroyed by years of pollution from the infamous Zinc operation in Palmerton. The rocks formed from deposition of sediment on the shore of the Iapetus ocean were the partners of our feet in walking. A few swallows and vultures seemed to walk with us along and down the mountain.

Mostly, people smiled and laughed and climbed and walked together. We had a day on land – wild, dead land that is being brought back to life with science, effort, and determination by Dan Kunkle and The Lehigh Gap Nature Center. We all added a good story to our lives on Saturday afternoon. There are many more overarching narratives and personal stories to add in the days, weeks, and months to come.

I hope to see you next time.

The Lehigh Gap–Saturday April 6th–Noon

(Event page link, if you don’t make it to the end…)

[Update: At the top right of the page you'll see a link that reads:Events, Outreach, Education. Well, when I removed all my old posts - I destroyed the purpose of that tab! So, I restored the event posts and you can read them again. I added them to the front page of the blog as well - so if you scroll through - they are all right here. ]

I mentioned yesterday that many of the parks visited in an urban area are full of small representations of the wilder areas of the world.  Here in the Lehigh Valley, we are lucky to be able to see the bigger version too. I am sure old-time readers of this site will remember many dedicated posts to some of those venues. (Bake Oven Knob, Delaware Water Gap, Lehigh Gorge State Park, etc.…)  Well, with those posts hidden away, I want to extend an invitation to join me this Saturday at Noon at The Lehigh Gap.

In February I was elected as the Outings Chair of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of The Sierra Club.  This Saturday, at the Lehigh Gap, is my first official Sierra Club hike. I debated about how I was going to construct the post for a while this evening while I watched the Phillies get owned by the Braves.  I thought about the unbelievable and amazing exposed geology at the site and the contrast between the millions of years on display (geologic time!) and the fast paced technology driven lives of modern human beings.  I thought about the migrating raptors and other dinosaur descendants that will likely be filling the skies and slowly greening surroundings on and around the trail.  I thought of the world-renowned grand-scale ecological restoration project being undertaken on the mountain, that shows how nature can thrive in the arsenic laden shadows of a long gone zinc manufacturing plant.  I thought about the slow glory of spring coming alive in the layers of the eastern deciduous ecosystem and the show it is likely beginning to put on across the mountainside. Lastly, I thought about the forecast and the promise of a clear sky and a warm afternoon.

And then, I reconsidered everything.  I wasn’t going to talk about any of those things in this blog post.  I wasn’t going to adorn the blocks of text with the many pictures I have of this most glorious and unique place.  Nope.  I wasn’t going to say or share a single thing.  I can’t do it.  You might accuse me of photoshopping the pictures – that is how unique and incredible the sites they contain are.  You might even accuse me of exaggerating the thousands of hawks seen some days passing overhead.  You might not believe the effect of hearing the Lehigh River – the agent of this particular erosion and subsequent artist of epochal consideration – echo in the million year old split rock wall of the Blue Mountain.  You might just not believe a single word I wrote.

The proof is in the pudding and while I realize that it is short notice – if you can make it out on Saturday you will fast realize how much I undersell the venue.  I’m probably going to talk a bit about geology, ecological restoration, and bird migration.  We will surely walk a bit! (This is a hike after all) 

I hope to see you there.

All of these words are a hyperlink to reach the Facebook page that if you click you are attending on, you will find an address, directions, and a weather forecast.

Also – click here and like Kleiner’s Blog on Facebook!

Also – click here and like Lehigh Valley Sierra Club on Facebook. (We do tons of awesome stuff)

Cleaning Up The Lehigh Parkway

(Lots of Pics on the bottom but check out The Morning Call’s picture gallery and coverage of the event! – click here)

The second best reason for the existence of parks in urban areas has got to be for the purpose of building communities.  People fill the parks around them at various times during the year and when they do so, they see other people.  That may sound like a strange sort of thing to say but the world we live in today can be rather divisive and oftentimes leaves people as strangers when at one time they could consider each other neighbors.

Yesterday, in the Lehigh Parkway, a group of individuals joined together and formed one of those park spawn communities in order to help clean up damage from old storms.  I was able to organize the event so that students from Muhlenberg College’s EnACT (Environmental Action Student Group), councilpersons from the Allentown Environmental Advisory Council, members of the Lehigh Valley Road Runners, park walkers, park lovers, concerned citizens and active stewards all met between saw blades and made a difference.

A fallen tree was the major focus of this day of action and within an hour of beginning our work, the tree was entirely tended to.  Our group was able to accomplish quite a lot, pretty rapidly, in the course of that hour.  It was fantastic.

With strangers working together for a common purpose for no pay or recognition, a difference was made.  The purpose of this day was simple and not incredibly remarkable.  The thing that made the event remarkable were the people who worked together to complete the task at hand.  As you view the pictures below I sincerely hope you can see what I am talking about and I really hope that it encourages you to come for the next one.  What beats making friends from strangers?

Number 18 was pretty awesome Readers.  Thank you

An Ecological Walk through Cedar Creek Parkway.

If you were to consider the major priorities of the majority of first year college students this year, I would imagine that Ecology walks in a park wouldn’t make the list. Well, when Dr. Meier – the Bio prof for the first years offers course credit for attendance and a write-up, that list of priorities suddenly and wonderfully changes.

We had a great turn out Saturday evening at Cedar Creek Parkway. In addition to the throng of freshman Bio students, we had the presence of Muhlenberg professors Dr. Paul Meier and Dr. Rudski. Very special guests Steve Johnson and Jacy Good were in attendance as were a smattering of upper classmen, who were sacrificing precious work time to come out and support the cause.

Yes, the cause. We were out on a walk for the cause of biodiversity, ecosystem health and the beautiful ecology that can be possible with proper management and care. Speaking at the walk were Muhlenberg College researchers Ron Clark on amphibian ecology and Jenny Bleznak about her work with bees and how that work relates to the real world that we were all standing in that evening. I spoke about my research and about the five major causes of the loss of biodiversity in the modern world as defined by Naturalist E.O Wilson. (Those are, Habitat Destruction, Invasive Species, Pollution, Population, and (Over) Harvesting)

I cannot thank Ron and Jenny enough for the time and effort they put into the walk. They were both amazing. It really is a hell of a thing to consider the ways in which the research projects folks like Jenny, Ron and myself slave over for hour upon hour in our respective laboratories have real, immediate and genuine impact on the living ecosystem around us. It was my intention to illuminate that connection to walk-goers and I think Ron and Jenny nailed it straight out of the park.

The idea of community is foundational to the reasoning by which I keep formulating and hosting these events. Too often I think we forget that we are ourselves an animal member of the ecosystem that we live in. That ecosystem is usually paved over, mowed and trimmed to a near urban oblivion but where green is allowed to grow – the last vestiges persist. We, as scientists, persist as well. The research done by individuals all over the world in modern ecology, biology, chemistry and environmental science is helping paint a clearer picture of a world – a biosphere – in peril.

We took a Saturday to walk and learn. We hear the voices of folks who are out there trying to learn, to expand upon the vast library of scientific study and take their additions to a park to tell others what they have been doing. By even engaging in the smallest way – every person on the walk made a difference. They chose to learn. They chose to become better informed. They chose to walk the way of knowledge and to borrow Darwin, and Dr Meier – they hastened the process of developing their view of life.

Again, thank you Jenny. Thank you Ron. Thank you Meier. Thanks Michelle and Jackie and Shannon and Ben and Jacy and Steve and everyone else whose names aren’t listed.

I hope to see you next time.

Our hike on South Mountain with Bill Sweeney

If you are reading this and you missed the hike, you missed one hell of a good time.

Bill Sweeney is one of the people who work tirelessly to keep the world around us as close to way the world around us should be as one can in these modern days. Every park, every preserved piece of open land, every growing tree in any city is likely there because of the influence of someone like Bill Sweeney.

Bill led our hike through the forest of South Mountain talking about the trees, the shrubs, the native forest flowers – the way that for a second this world could be, that is where Bill led us on Saturday. We talked about the way the forest is, the way it should be managed – rather, the way it should be tended to and cared for.

We spoke of consumption, use, energy and sustainability. We spoke of a world slipping from our fingertips to the dark shadow of overuse and waste. We spoke a conversation that everyone should be engaged in by the sides of a forest, the leaves of Solomon’ seal- the flowering Jack-in-the-Pulpit (and an excellent anecdote from Bill about the flower) – the peace of the ecosystem in process – again, the way the world should be. To see Bill look around the forest – and really see it was amazing.  With every glance the man was able to see the good there – he was able to see what is so very much worth fighting for.

Thank you so much Bill. I cannot wait to do it again!

After a Thunderstorm: In the Lehigh Parkway (Summer 2009)

When I first started writing the blog, I was freshly laid off from my job and filled with an incredible energy as I spent the entire summer of 2009 journeying to all the parks of the city of Allentown and sharing my travels with you.  There were on occasion some unique and incredible moments, and this remains by far – my absolute favorite. I love these pictures. I’ve cut some of  the original text, so , please, just look. Here, it is easy to understand what Thoreau meant when he said that in wilderness is the preservation of the world.  This is by no means what we would classically define a wilderness to be but perhaps, as the antithesis to the modern world, it is a wilderness and it surely must be preserved.  Take a look and share your thoughts!

I couldn’t figure out why right away. It wasn’t hot enough for the macadam to be letting out enough heat to cause it. I didn’t think the contrast between the surface temperature of the Little Lehigh and the air was great enough to cause it either. I was confused. Until I saw this:

That is a serious accumulation of hail. The melting of which is the cause of the mist. Had I arrived earlier I may have been greeted with a Parkway that looked more like there should have been lights in it than green trees.

There were examples of the erosive power of water everywhere.

 

Ecological Examination of Cedar Beach

On Sunday September 12th,  a crowd of Muhlenberg students, Allentown citizens, Environmentalists, preservationists, Eco-feminists, and the like gathered in Cedar Beach Parkway for an examination of ecology, of sustainability and of modern consciousness in hopes of better understanding the ecological future of one of Allentown’s most important resources.

We heard talk of floodplains and the various hazards of impermeable surface development, we heard talk of water quality and phosphates and nitrates.  We heard about sustainability, about management options about soil and about ecological consciousness.  We heard of problems and of solutions, some easy – some hard.  Bottom line, we heard and we listened to one another in an open discussion regarding our role as human beings in the protection of an ecosystem that exists in a functional urban park.  And, we had cookies.

Special thanks to:
Dr. Jason Kelsey, Dr. Richard Niesenbaum, Dr. David McGuire, Professor Karen Tuerk, Ilya and Alex.

To those who came out – I hope you had a great, interesting and engaging time. Thank you so much for checking this out.

Now, that was the last of two years worth of events spotlighting local ecological issues.  Starting in 2011 a series of ACTION DAYS will begin.  We know the issues.  We know what is at stake.  We know that the few feet of land we can restore, preserve and protect in our parks is in all likelihood the most we can accomplish in our fight for Nature.

(The first event may actually happen this year! We’ll see)

Yesterday: EAC Tour & Breaking News on the future of Trout Creek Parkway

As Amanda, Sean, Dan, Heather, Claudia, Doc McGuire, Karen, my parents, and I walked around Trout Creek Parkway yesterday examining incredibly serious established areas of invasive species growth; we were walking through ground zero of invasive species infestation here in the city of Allentown.

Japanese Knotweed, Multiflora Rose, Japanese Stiltgrass, Chinese Sumac, Purple Loosestrife and more… These invasive species are the dominant species of Trout Creek Parkway and the purpose of our EAC walk around the park was to identify them, see the effects on the ecosystem created by their presence and to have an open discussion about the future of invasive species management in the city of Allentown. It also transformed into an impromptu litter clean up.

What will ultimately be a long battle is just beginning all across our parks and our backyards. A united effort needs to begin immediately to face this growing threat. There are many strategies to explore and experiment with. There are many volunteer efforts to be coordinated. Bottom line, there is a lot of work to be done and lot of determination necessary from the city government and our citizens.

On a cloudy, halfway cool and mostly muggy afternoon with bags full of trash, a plastic shopping cart, a rusty children’s bike and a homeless man asleep on a bench, the folks who made up the EAC tour of Trout Creek Parkway took the first step towards a future of proper invasive species management. A huge thank you to my fellow EAC members David McGuire and Karen Tuerk for helping lead the way, a major thank you to Claudia for providing us an opportunity to experience her great amount of knowledge and another thank you to the folks who came out for a walk in the park.

Perhaps the most telling moment of yesterday afternoon came during a break on our walk back. Covered in mud, with heavy bags of collected trash we stopped on a bridge and saw a Kingfisher fly past. It is incredible to consider that despite the epic amounts of trash, the ecosystem dominated by invasive species and a park in desperate need of ecological restoration, there – flew a Kingfisher.

Imagine what could be if our parks were ecologically restored! Imagine the experiences people would have and the connections to nature that could be developed! It is more than a possible future. To that end, below the pictures, I have a look at the future of Trout Creek Parkway given to by Parks and Rec Director Greg Weitzel.

Remember the Kingfisher.

“Trout Creek is classified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a High-Quality Cold Water Fishery (HQ-CWF) that supports reproducing native brown trout (Salmo trutta). Trout Creek originates from a series of springs surrounded by the pristine woodlands of South Mountain , but unfortunately as it flows into the City of Allentown it becomes seriously degraded.

Trout Creek suffers from the non-point source pollution and habitat degradation typical of a neglected urban stream, and as a result is listed on DEP’s list of impaired waters (formerly the 303(d) list).
The mile and a half reach we propose to restore flows through Allentown’s Trout Creek Park and is highly channelized with long expanses of gabion basket walls and a series of small concrete dams.

Much of this reach completely lacks riparian vegetation and the streamside vegetative communities that do exist are composed solely of invasive plants, including Japanese knotweed (Polygonium cuspidatum), Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). As a result the creek lacks: the shade necessary for water temperature moderation, the leaf litter inputs necessary to support a healthy macroinvertebrate community, and the in-stream structural diversity to provide sufficient fish habitat.

We plan to improve water quality and in-stream habitat conditions, restore the riparian corridor, re-create floodplain and upland wildlife habitat, and educate the community about the importance of natural resource protection in urban areas.

Specifically we will:
* Remove the walls and dams channelizing a 1.5 mile reach of Trout Creek
* Re-grade stream banks to restore the Creek’s access to its floodplain
* Work with Pa. Fish & Boat Commission to install in-stream fish habitat structures
* Eradicate approximately 14 acres of Japanese knotweed and other invasive plants
* Convert approximately 10 acres of lawn into native warm season grass habitat
* Restore the riparian corridor by planting approximately 500 native trees & shrubs
* Install a variety of bird and bat boxes throughout the park
* Install Grow Zone markers to help protect the newly established riparian
buffer
* Develop and install educational signs throughout the park
* Educate the community about the importance of urban habitat restoration
through newspaper articles and public meetings
* Engage the community by organizing volunteer cleanups in Trout Creek Park
* Develop a riparian buffer and invasive plant management plan to guide the City of
Allentown’s maintenance activities at this and other parks]

Even though we have not received notice of award of grant funds yet, we’ve still been making a significant effort to rid the park of the Japanese knot weed,cutting as much as possible in preparation of the spraying which will begin in August. A former EAC member (Mike Adams) helped supply several contractor contacts last year and after field visits and quotes were received, we’ve hired a state licensed firm to spray the knotweed after we cut to a manageable height.  We’ve also had several groups doing stream bank clean-ups this year, as the park is frequently used as a dump site over the winter months.

Last but certainly not least, we recognize that this park is in need of major renovations. The park is on the list for a master plan in the next several years
(Jordan Park is the next large park for master planning).”

EAC Hike on South Mountain

Yesterday afternoon I was joined by fellow EAC members, Dan Poresky and David McGuire for a hike on South Mountain.  We were joined by Lehigh County Conservation District watershed specialist Rebecca Kennedy and local botanist Claudia Steckel.  Our hike was meant to highlight the health of the forest on South Mountain and serve as an opportunity to have a public discourse on the issues facing the forest. I want to thank everyone who came out to join us yesterday.  We had a pretty big group and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the turnout.

We discussed the invasive species present on the mountain and the differences between native, non-native and invasive species.  Claudia and Rebecca talked about the threats of invasive and non native plants and offered strategies for dealing with them.  As we were walking yesterday we saw folks on motorized bicycles and ATVs on the mountain trails.  At the top of the mountain we encountered an individual who had made a fire in the old pavilion/lookout.  All of those activities, to my knowledge, are prohibited in South Mountain.  The city of Allentown needs to put up proper signage in the park indicating what the rules are.  As it is, there are almost no signs letting people know what can and can’t be done on the mountain.

Being able to spend an afternoon with some of the brightest environmental minds in the area was fantastic.  I always feel lucky to get to hear these folks and learn from them.  I want to thank all the hikers who came out yesterday and extend an invitation to all of our events, as more will continue to be announced! (The next one will be let out of the bag later this week!) It really is a great thing to spend a day amongst friends and family in the wild, learning and experiencing nature together.  Thank you again!

Cedar Beach Picnic

What a day!

Thank you Jaime K for making food, helping me promote and organize the whole shindig and taking the event to a level of epic awesomeness.

Thanks Joe T for playing some wonderful music.

Thanks to everyone who came out.  Yesterday was incredible and it was because all of you came.  We made new friends, had good conversation and shared a day together in celebration of community and enjoyment.  All of you completely and totally rule.

Thanks to the tornado for never coming but a big thumbs down to the rain and subsequent flooded pavilion.  Although, the large amount of stormwater proved to be an excellent example of run off in storm events leading to erosion and disturbance.

I could go on and on about yesterday for a long while but instead, I am going to let you sift through all the pictures and see for yourself how great it was.  I will be announcing a new event in a few days, so stay tuned.  Don’t miss out on the next one!

Again, Thank all of you for coming.  You fired me back up.  I’m pumped.

What wonderful memories we were able to create…

The EAC Tour of the Parkway

Driving home yesterday, after the tour had ended, truthfully – I felt pretty pumped.  I had just spent two and a half hours sharing whatever knowledge I could offer with some of the smartest, most informed, and genuinely wonderful people I know.  We walked, we talked, some spoke, some listened – everyone learned.  We learned about the Parkway, about the flora, the fauna, we learned about ecology, about community, and we learned about each other.

I eagerly joined the EAC once nominated and voted on in order to more forcefully exercise my dedication to the parks system and the environment here in Allentown.  My fellow EAC members and Sunday afternoon tour guides, Dave and Karen are two of the brightest folks I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I am lucky to be on a Council with minds like these, and I have much to learn from them.  Yesterday afternoon, Dave spoke of the purpose of lime kilns, of stream restoration, and many other topics of concern.

Karen showed us the life of bloodworm larva, squirming to ease their starvation of oxygen.

I want to thank Karen and Dave for joining me as tour guides and for providing an afternoon full of information for everyone who came out to walk.

Mike Gilbert, the watershed specialist for the city of Allentown and a parks department worker in the Lehigh Parkway since 1984 came along for the journey.

Mike provided the insight of an informed veteran and the knowledge of a man who had spent twenty years working hard to maintain a vital natural space.  A big thank you to Mike for coming out yesterday and for the hard work and dedication he has given to the city of Allentown.  Mike is a great guy.

Claudia, from the Rose Garden Neighborhood Association joined us as well.  Claudia has a knowledge of botany that I will forever be envious of and we were lucky to have her along.

In front of these people, I must confess feeling quite nervous opening my mouth.  I hope I was able to provide some good information and my beard wasn’t too distracting.

Now, I must thank my parents, Matt, Jerista, Katie, Mike Molovinsky, John and Harris for coming out yesterday and taking a walk with us.

In addition to conversation regarding “Grow Zones”

riparian buffers, invasive species,

and the length of riparian buffers (25ft should be considered a mandatory minimum),

we were able to see beautiful wildlife; both dead like this catbird and brown trout,

and alive like this heron and tree swallow.

(I should stop here and thank Katie for helping me take pictures.  She did a great job, as you all can see)

The unofficial tour guide for the day was young Harris.

He also called me “Professor” and I happened to like the ring of it although I am not one at the moment.  I certainly hope he can see the future.  (Maybe it was just my beard, I mean, Doc is a professor after all and he has a pretty good one)

The sun had just broken through the clouds and the threat of rain that I had feared would ruin the walk was completely dissipated.  After spending many hours soaked or bloody or stung or half-frozen throughout the wild spaces of the Lehigh Valley, it was never more apparent to me as it was yesterday that experiencing nature together with others – sharing awe, wonder, curiosity, concern, etc – is vital to our human existence.

We are after all, mammals and as such, permanent members of the natural community despite Facebook and I-Phones.  There was no place I would have rather been yesterday afternoon and there are no people I would have rather spent my time with.  For those who missed it, I am sure that if you hadn’t you would feel the same way.  Do not worry though, there are more events like this to come.  You can make the next one.

Again, Thank you Karen, Dave, Claudia, Mike G, Mike M, Jerista, Matt, Katie, John, Harris and my parents.

Late last evening I sent Katie a text message asking her to tell me what she thought about the afternoon in a sentence or two.  She sent me the following: “I thought it was really eye opening and this coming from the perspective of a suburbanite who lives next to a creek and sees herons everyday; but its true, the closer you look, the more there is to see.”  Katie is right.  We saw a lot yesterday and I am incredibly grateful for it.  Our tour of two hours barely touched the tip of the ecological iceberg in the Lehigh Parkway.  There are very serious issues – sediment build up, stream bank erosion, invasive species, loss of wildlife habitat, soil compaction, over-mowing, etc- that one afternoon will simply not highlight all of them.  This is a journey of learning and such an event as the one I am proud to say I held yesterday really helps continue that journey along.

We cannot solve the problems in one afternoon.  We can however begin the conversation that will see these problems addressed.  This really is just the beginning readers and there was no better place for it than the Lehigh Parkway.  The old stone of the WPA construction let all of us know exactly what can be done when a bunch of people put their heads, hearts and hands together and work to make a difference.  i hope to see you next time if you couldn’t make it yesterday.  If you did, I look forward to seeing you again.

The Litter Pick Up at Bucky Boyle

At 11:30, I stood in the parking lot at Bucky Boyle alone and marveled at how cold the wind was.  May 9th?, the sky, the air felt like October.  I assembled the brooms, dust pans, gloves, pickers, and bags, leaned against my car and waited.  Given that it was Mother’s Day, and the weather was not conducive to park clean ups, I thought that no one was coming.

The first arrival was Lauren, a teacher at Sheridan Elementary School.  Lauren is very involved in the community in her role as teacher and coach, and she told me that numerous announcements had been made and she expected at least a few people out.

Next, my parents and then C.R.  We stood in the cold, at noon, and I didn’t think anyone else was coming.  We began cleaning, Dan Poresky joined the fray followed by Dan and Sean.  As our small team worked, a large group of neighborhood kids joined us and subsequently dwarfed our numbers.

I want to thank everyone for coming out.  Lauren for helping get people out and coming out herself despite the holiday.  C.R was fundamentally involved in all aspects of this and made it possible.  I want to thank my parents for coming out, Dan and Sean as well.  I want to thank Michael Molovinsky for dropping in, and donating some hand wipes.

My greatest thanks and admiration is reserved for the kids who joined us yesterday.  These kids ranging in age from second grade to freshman year of high school were bright, funny, energetic and hard working.  These kids care about the park and came out on their own accord on a cold Sunday in May to help make the park a better place.

If ever I felt as if my blog had a purpose, yesterday the actions of these dedicated young folks is it.

Although, Hector and Xavier gave me a little schooling as they were Yankees fans and I reminded them that the Phillies happened to be the greatest team in baseball.  To which they asked, “What happened last fall, Andrew?”  Owned.

As it stands though, my beard remains.  Had those amazing kids not shown up, my turnout would have been abysmal.  I hope that in the future, for upcoming events (EAC tour of the Parkway May 23rd, Lunch, party, music, education at Cedar Beach with Jaime K on June 6th and more to come… ), seeing as they are not on holidays, that I will see more of my readers and friends show up and participate.

Yesterday, a group of kids spent a day off from school working to make their neighborhood park a better place.  They will tell their friends and their parents, and they will remember what they did there each time they visit from now on.

I will remember those kids as well each time I visit Bucky Boyle.  They are making a difference.  They are building up a community around themselves that over time will be one worth envy.  They also have a great and dedicated teacher in Lauren who deserves much acclaim for her efforts.  (and yes, you too C…)

Thank you again: Katalina, Heaven, Amanda, Delilah, Thanya, Mary, Xavier, Louis, Hector, Karla, and Xiomara.   Dan P, Sean, Danny, Mom and Dad.

One final note, If you are reading this, young man, I have no doubt whatsoever if you keep working like you did yesterday, the University of Texas will be glad to have you as a new star wide out.  Good Luck friend.

Yesterday’s Volunteer Clean up at The Old Fairgrounds

Yesterday afternoon, in Cooperation with Friends of the Allentown Parks, Dr. Phil Stein of Temple Beth El collaborated with Jeff Pooley of the Old Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association , the Allentown Rescue Mission, and Dubbs UCC Church to do the first part of a multi-day volunteer clean up effort at the Old Fairgrounds Playground.





It was a deceptively mild November day, meaning that, as soon as you began raking and weeding it became quite hot and you sweat as if it were still summer. I was very glad to be able to participate in this wonderful volunteer activity. It is without a doubt, something that needs to happen more often in Allentown.

As we were working, a steady stream of young folks from the neighborhood joined in with excitement and spent their Sunday afternoon off from school shoveling mulch and working hard to help beautify a wonderful asset to downtown Allentown.


When we began our work, the mulch beds had been infiltrated by weeds and were in need of re-mulching. After amassing piles of waste and bagging them, the mulch beds were covered anew.



I want to personally thank this fellow named Bryan:

He worked with me for a long while and despite being disappointed by the non-availability of a shovel, put his back into it and really helped out. Great kid.

At a time when another downtown Allentown playground has suffered extreme vandalism, our effort on Sunday afternoon seemed that much more needed. As someone who enjoys the parks on a nearly daily basis, giving back to them whenever the chance is presented is something I believe to be the right thing to do. I am proud to do it. To be able to see a local community unite for an afternoon to help make a communal resource better was an amazing thing to be a part of.

Thanks again to everyone who organized this event and thanks to everyone who came out to work in support of it. I’m looking forward to the next time.

See Also:

Planting the Riparian Buffer at Cedar Beach

Our second Walk in the Park

This past Saturday, our second get together took place at Trexler Park.

Noon was apparently too early for my brother:

We began our walk at the main entrance and headed up towards the statue of General Trexler. That hill was tough on me with the heat so I have to tip my hat to Jos and Jim for pushing strollers up it. My mom gets a tip of the hat as well for making it up there with a severe ankle injury.






It’s funny that excluding me and my immediate family, the folks that came out for the walk were not from Allentown; Jos and Dani grew up in Coopersburg, Jim and Susie grew up outside of Bethlehem and Eric grew up in Macungie. I was glad to share as much of the historical knowledge about Trexler Park and General Trexler that I know, with them.

We ended our walk at the lagoon. We were able to see a beautiful heron on the rocks at the back end of the water.



I want to thank everyone for coming out on Saturday. It was a great time. I hope more people can join us for our next event. I will announce plans for our next get together which I am thinking will be a picnic at Cedar Beach in a few days. Hopefully it won’t be so darn hot!

See Also:
Our first Walk in the Park

Cursory Considerations at Catasauqua Lake

I do not think it matters what the exact dimensions of the park or green space or wild area are. There is a feeling that hits quicker than the wind when you leave the parking lot and begin to walk in wilder space. In an urban area like the Lehigh Valley, this is no manifestation of the magisterial sort of wilderness left in a few corners of the world – but a smaller smacking of the same thing.

The dramatic contrast between the city streets and park paths is the catalyst for that feeling I described up there at the top of the first paragraph. When I got home from my walk around Catasauqua Lake, I happened upon a story on Treehugger that helps me explain this with beautiful precision. The article relays the findings of a study from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh. Our brains are actually observably affected by a journey in a park space. I recommend clicking on this and checking out the study yourself. Neuroscience – for the win.

So, yes – post the defuzzing of your brain, that’s when the adventure begins. I am going to suggest that the reason for this being possible is by a fundamental shift in the governing rules of existence between city and park. In the construct of our society we have stop lights, stop signs, police, government, and a whole host of other operating agents that enforce control and order over the machinations of daily existence.

In the park – one finds themself a single step closer to an entirely different set of operating agents that existed long before the first social contract was enacted and will likely exist long after. The reason that we have this taste to sample after a day at work or home or school is because we were able, as a species, to conquer the unknown wild world around us. For centuries that wilderness lurking at the corners of the civilized world was considered a realm of evil spirits, demons, and even Satan himself.

With Satan banished, we are comfortable with our parks, preserves, and green spaces. The operating agents out here are things like the Nitrogen, Carbon, and Phosphorous cycles – Natural Selection – Trophic Transfer & Food Webs – Biodiversity – and the whole host of other defining topics of ecological science. It is these very subjects that I fear we know far too little of in modern America and these are some of the things I intend to focus on here on Kleiner’s Blog.

There is so much to talk about – right here at Catasaqua Lake – that I have no idea where to begin. I really don’t. But, I am going to try! Let me know what you would like for me to talk about or explain or illuminate for you. Sure, I will be doing plenty on my own but I am always looking for more to talk about with you. Take a look at the pictures accompanying this post. That’s raw science right there folks. A hybrid ecosystem – chemistry – biology – statistics and the rest… It’s the reason I went back to school and graduated with a degree in science.
It’s the reason why I am doing this. So much more to come…

It’s time for an adventure

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Four years ago, I started looking.  Unemployed and directionless, I went for a wander and found a world that I certainly never expected to discover.  Time passed and blog posts accumulated.  I began an active civic engagement by leading walks, giving talks, and sharing the knowledge I learned by spending my time in some of the wilder spots of the Allentown area.  Eventually the blog of discovery became an e-bully pulpit of environmental activism.  I became involved in the political machinations of environmental stewardship as an Allentown Environmental Advisory Councilman.  And somewhere along the way, everything had changed.

It became harder to continue to write & post the same things over and over again.  The initial spark of inspiration that catapulted my entire existence into something I never thought it would be – had gone out.  My blog posts were fewer and further between until they eventually stopped completely.  After 3 and a half years, Remember – Kleiner’s Blog was dead.

Truthfully, it had to go.

I remain forever proud of what I accomplished during those years and I hope that the faces and spirits involved in the work I led are proud of it too.  My blog was the defining force in my life for a good long time- a longer time than most things are actively engaged in throughout the course of living.  But, as you are reading this and while I was writing this and with a new inspiration; it occurred to me that I genuinely missed this whole endeavor.

There are still adventures to be had.  That’s what went wrong the first time around.  I stopped having adventures.  I originally intended to expand my “Park Log” series in 2009 to the other cities in the Lehigh Valley and eventually visit State Parks, other city parks, and maybe even some National Parks if I could pull off the journey.  That initial purpose was waylaid as described above.  So, I am hitting the reset button.

All four years of posting have been removed from this website.  Don’t worry – I still have them and will repost some of them every now and again.

It’s time to have some adventures again.  I can’t promise I will post everyday – I am a working man!  But, I will try to post often and I think I am going to try some different things this go around. Let’s see what happens!

Come for a walk with me.