Community Corner

Park Fountain Restoration Plan Gets Council Support

Hellertown Borough Council has approved support for the restoration of the Borough Authority Park fountain by volunteer and borough resident Joe Delfoe.

Just in time for its 50th anniversary in a couple of years, Hellertown's Borough Authority Park could be revived.

Hellertown Borough Council unanimously approved on March 4 support for a park fountain restoration project first proposed by volunteer and borough resident Joe Delfoe last year.

Delfoe, whose Hellertown Plaza Clock Tower Association oversees the maintenance and beautification of the fountain in Detwiller Plaza, said he wants the wedding cake-style fountain at the center of Borough Authority Park to once again be a centerpiece.

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In order to accomplish that, he said approximately seven large trees that currently encircle the fountain should be removed.

The large trees obscure the fountain from view, and the leaves they drop are causing the macadam around it to "crack and crumble," Delfoe said.

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Delfoe proposed replacing the macadam with pavers, as well as the installation of additional benches, and possibly picnic tables nearby under the trees.

The memorial benches that are near the fountain now "are in honor of young people that left the earth too quickly, so let’s treat them right," he told council.

Other suggestions made by Delfoe included:

  • The installation of lighting to illuminate the fountain at night.
  • The removal of the remaining pine trees in the park, which Delfoe said could topple in a future storm.
  • A sponsorship program to encourage the planting of new saplings.

Delfoe said the park was constructed around 1965, which is when most of its existing trees were planted.

With some time and effort, it can once again be "a park that we could all be proud of," he said to council.

He estimated a two-year timeline for completion of all the work he suggested.


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