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Residents urge council to keep Orchard Park amid land‑banking and developer interest
Summary
Several residents and neighborhood leaders told the Altoona City Council that Orchard Park should remain public parkland, citing a petition with more than 1,000 signatures, state law and a desire for nearby, walkable green space. Speakers said they will pursue legal options if council proceeds with transferring the parcel.
Several residents and neighborhood group leaders urged the Altoona City Council at Monday’s meeting to keep Orchard Park as public parkland rather than transfer it for housing or development.
Shasta Langenbacher, president of the Booker T. Washington Revitalization Corporation, told the council she had helped gather a petition that, as of the morning of the meeting, showed 1,038 signatures and that 65% of those signers lived in Altoona zip codes 16601, 16602 and 16603. “All children deserve a park. All of our residents deserve to have a park that they can walk to,” Langenbacher said.
The petition and turnout at the meeting reflected broad concern about a study and ensuing…
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