Cedar Beach Park | Allentown

Cedar Beach Park spans roughly 90 acres along Cedar Creek in Allentown, Pennsylvania, forming the centerpiece of the city’s linear “Parkway” greenway. The site is organized in three distinct zones-recreation core, lakeside promenade, and natural riparian corridor-so visitors can move from energetic sports areas to quiet creek-edge paths in just a few minutes.

Recreation core

Athletic complex: Five lighted softball diamonds with shaded bleachers occupy the western quadrant. Adjacent are eight newly resurfaced hard-court tennis courts that convert for pickleball, plus two full-size basketball courts with stadium-style LEDs for evening play.

Pool and splash park: The Cedar Beach Pool complex includes a 50-meter lap pool, a zero-entry leisure pool with mushroom fountain, and a separate fenced splash pad for toddlers. Clean bathhouses, locker rentals, and a small concession stand operate daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Inclusive playground: “Destination Playground” covers nearly an acre with poured-in-place rubber surfacing, wheelchair-accessible ramps, high-back swings, sensory panels, and a double-zip line canopy. Shaded benches ring the perimeter for caregivers.

Lakeside promenade

Cedar Lagoon: A spring-fed, three-acre ornamental lake sits at the park’s center, crossed at midpoint by a stone-faced arched bridge. Paddleboats were discontinued in the 1990s, but the lake remains stocked with koi and visited by migrating waterfowl. Two peninsula overlooks provide close-up bird-watching.

Sculpture walk: A half-mile paved loop circles the lagoon, featuring ten rotating pieces from the Allentown Art Museum’s outdoor collection. Each pedestal includes low-profile, Braille-captioned plaques so the walk is fully accessible.

Formal gardens: Between the lagoon and Ott Street stands the Rose Arbor, a 1929 pergola draped in heirloom climbers. Seasonal plantings-tulips in April, hybrid tea roses in June, chrysanthemums in October-are maintained by volunteer master gardeners.

Riparian corridor

Creekside trail: A lightly crushed-stone path follows Cedar Creek eastward under a canopy of sycamores and silver maples. Interpretive signs identify native plants and detail the 1870s iron-smelting history that once lined these banks.

Wildlife meadows: Two former turf sections have been converted to pollinator habitat, seeded with little bluestem, milkweed, and black-eyed Susans. Expect monarch butterflies late August through mid-September.

Angler access: Designated fishing pads with railing and tackle-waste bins sit every 300 feet. Cedar Creek supports stocked brown trout in spring and smallmouth bass year-round.

Visitor amenities

Restrooms with changing tables are open dawn to dusk near the playground and pool. Dozens of stationary charcoal grills and nine reservable pavilions (20 to 150 seats) are distributed along drive loops; reservations are handled online by the Allentown Parks Department. Multiple water-bottle fillers tie into an on-site well system, providing chilled potable water even during regional drought restrictions.

Events and programs

April: Cherry Blossom Festival along the lagoon lawn
June–August: “Rock the Walk” Thursday concerts at the bandshell, drawing local food trucks and craft vendors
September: Allentown Art in the Park juried show, one of Pennsylvania’s oldest outdoor arts fairs
December: “Lights in the Parkway” drive-through display begins just east of the park entrance, turning the internal loop into a two-mile holiday illumination route

Practical tips

Arrive before 10 a.m. on summer weekends if you need a grill or pavilion table without a reservation. Cyclists should use the marked side lanes on Park Drive; the inner lake loop is pedestrian-only after 9 a.m. Dogs are welcome on leash everywhere except the pool deck. During heavy rains, the creekside trail may close for flash-flood safety, but the elevated promenade and athletic areas remain accessible.