Friendship Park, 247 E North St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Friendship Park sits at the core of the Northside Alive neighborhood.
Formerly known as Tank Park, it is beloved by long-time residents. But it has lost some of its community feel in recent years.
Seeking to revitalize the park, Community Action Development Corp. of Bethlehem hired the Baltimore-based Mahan Rykiel Associates Inc. to help reimagine Friendship Park.
In June 2022, residents told the park consultant what they'd like to see in the new design.
The new Friendship Park plan was developed in concert with the community at several summer events.
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We learned how our community currently uses the park, how it can be improved, and what you'd like to see in the new design.
Guests place stickers on their favorite proposed new park elements.
More than 100 people offered their reaction to the Friendship Park redesign.
We hope to make Friendship Park more inviting for everyone from toddlers to cyclists to senior citizens.
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All of that feedback was incorporated into this design for a reimagined Friendship Park.
In 2023, The City of Bethlehem hired Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. to create the construction and engineering drawings needed for the next phase of the project. The City acquired permits needed for the project and city engineers finalized the construction documents.
In 2024, work continued to secure the funding needed to bring the community's vision to life.
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The planning study, completed in January 2023, estimated the renovation to cost around $1.4 million. The City of Bethlehem applied for a number of grants to fund the cost of implementing this plan and successfully raised all of the funding needed to completely transform this neighborhood park!
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A big THANK YOU to the elected officials that supporting this project and The Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation for their generous contribution towards the new Splash Pad!
In 2025, we're thrilled to share that that the revitalization of Friendship Park is underway!
As of February, the Friendship Park project is officially out to bid, which means we anticipate construction to begin later this year! This project is set to create a vibrant space for our community, fostering connection and enjoyment. We will have a better understanding of the timeline once the project is awarded.
In late May, demolition to remove old fixtures and asphalt began at Friendship Park to prepare the space for the reimagined community driven design.
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The area is currently closed for the construction but we encourage you to check out other nearby neighborhood parks such as, Elmwood or Sand Island park.
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Based on the current construction timeline, we anticipate the park renovation to be completed mid-September pending any schedule changes due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Get Involved!
Friendship Park is just one of many initiatives that our Safe & Vibrant Public Realm committee supports.
This group also creates and implements projects centered on streetscape improvements, making designated intersections safer, upgrading local parks and adding green space and public art.
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