(The following story by Gregg W. Bortz appeared on The Express-Times website on May 27.)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Three years in the planning, a mile-long park in the middle of South Side Bethlehem is one step closer to becoming reality.
But it’s also at least $1 million away from getting built.
Mayor John Callahan announced Tuesday the city signed a three-year, $500-per-month lease deal for 14 acres of abandoned Norfolk Southern Railroad line, known as the Bethlehem Branch.
The city is leasing and plans to eventually buy the right-of-way from Union Station to the Lynn Street Bridge.
“The lease of the right-of-way will allow us to have control of the property while we continue our due diligence needed for a purchase,” Callahan said.
Norfolk Southern officially abandoned the right-of-way in February, allowing it to sell the property. The railroad discontinued freight service on the Bethlehem Branch in 1999.
Parts of the property have since become overgrown with weeds, a dumping ground for trash and an invitation to crime, Callahan said.
The city has secured $300,000 in state funding for acquisition and design of the greenway, a linear park identified as a keystone to South Side revitalization in consultant Sasaki and Associates’ “master plan.”
Starting in 2001, then-Mayor Don Cunningham adopted the greenway idea of a center city park with trails for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“This is really just a step in the right direction toward making a more livable place here in South Bethlehem,” Callahan said.
Planning and design will be done with public input through meetings of the Southside Vision 2012 committee, organized in 2002 to implement another Sasaki plan. David Shaffer of Just Born Inc. will head the design committee.
“There’s still an enormous amount of money needed to implement this plan,” Callahan said, estimating development costs in excess of $1 million.
Callahan said the city will look for more funding through the proposed Northampton County open space bond issue, or from federal sources. Callahan said he hopes to meet with U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum when he visits the city today to talk about Medicare prescription drug coverage.
The city’s monthly lease payments aren’t covered by the state funding, and will probably come from the general fund, according to Community and Economic Development Director Tony Hanna.
The city has the option of extending the lease at the end of three years.
“Norfolk Southern has some tax issues to deal with before they can actually sell it,” Hanna said. “We have every confidence we’ll purchase within that time frame.”
One important expense being picked up by Norfolk Southern is removing the rails, Hanna said.
Hanna said he didn’t know when the tracks would be removed, but said that process could take some time.
Callahan said the railroad will remove 13 gated crossings on city streets.
City council still needs to approve the lease.
Councilwoman Maggie Szabo, a lifetime South Side resident, said she offered years ago to tear up the first railroad tie when the tracks were finally removed.
The tracks and right-of-way have become a “wild dump” and a “total eyesore” running the length of South Side Bethlehem, Szabo said.
Callahan said the city’s South Side will be “completely pedestrian-friendly” when the tracks are finally removed.
“We will have a destination open space within walking distance of all South Bethlehem, Callahan said.