Allentown parks and recreation staff outline 2026 priorities; raise safety, permitting and restroom access issues

Allentown City Personal Recreation Committee members heard a budget-focused briefing Oct. 25 from Parks and Recreation staff outlining priorities for 2026, including continued park maintenance, support for the city's climate action plan and expansion of free swim lessons, plus operational changes to move special-event permitting into the city's EnerGov system.

The presentation laid out an incremental approach for 2026: maintain ongoing park operations (landscaping, tree care, athletic fields and courts), continue support for capital projects and special events, move event permitting into EnerGov to streamline applications, and expand aquatics programming with additional free swim lessons. "Going into 2026, our focus is gonna be continuing the path that we're on, but making improvements and and trying to deliver some of our programs, either expand them or or streamline them," Talino, Parks and Recreation staff, told the committee.

Why it matters: the items affect daily park upkeep, event permitting for vendors and organizers, and recreation access for Allentown residents. Committee members also pressed staff on safety for evening "movies at the pool," bathroom access across parks and efforts to recruit and certify lifeguards from within the city.

Most important details

Park maintenance and schedule: Talino said park maintenance work will continue with…