It’s the same old song when I see the attempt to destroy another recreation park in the Logantown sector of Altoona. Logantown is located from Chestnut Avenue to 22nd Avenue and from First Street to Fourth Street. The Little Orchard Park is between Second and Third streets on Beech Avenue.

Back in the ’60s, the PRR gave the Cricket Field to Altoona for $1 and the city management sold it for $100,000 for progress as they saw it.

The established ballpark was 8.6 acres, accommodating more than 32,000 spectators. The adjacent tree park was 6 acres, both combined, stretched from Chestnut Avenue to Howard Avenue and from Fourth Street at the southwest border of Logantown to Seventh Street.

In the ’90s, another recreation area was taken from Logantown near Howard Avenue and First Street.

The mismanaged Altoona YMCA directorship misled the Logantown community to gain real estate for its own financial gain. Altoona’s city government offered no assistance except for two female council persons who were forced to resign from duty soon after the court battles concluded. The ballfield was relinquished to Mid-State Bank from the YMCA because of their accumulated debts. Subsequently, this 2.9 acre ballfield became business property.

Now Logantown is the target again — different city management — but the same old song, same mistakes, same losses.

A few weeks ago, the foundation for housing replaced another recreation area on Chestnut Avenue between Second and Third streets.

If our city government remains unchecked they will successfully destroy still another recreational area in Logantown, the Little Orchard Park, the very last park remaining in Logantown.

Charles J. LaMark,

Logantown Park

Committee Director