Friendship Park used to be called Tank Park, but after Saturday’s ribbon cutting and block party, it may have a new reputation as one of the coolest neighborhood parks in the Lehigh Valley.
The newly renovated park at 247 E. North Street in Bethlehem officially reopened with a Northside Alive celebration featuring neighbors, families, food trucks, vendors, city staff, state partners, and plenty of kids ready to test out the splash pad.
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The celebration included remarks from Mayor J. William Reynolds, Celina Daddario, Northside Alive Neighborhood Coordinator, Rep. Steve Samuelson, Joe Kelly from Senator Lisa Boscola’s office, and PA DCNR. Samuelson noted the park’s long history in the neighborhood, saying many residents still remember it as Tank Park, while calling the renovation “a total transformation.” DCNR also highlighted the importance of Bethlehem asking residents what they wanted to see in their parks, which helped shape what Friendship Park became.
That community input was a big part of the day. The renovated park now includes a splash pad, a new basketball court, and space designed for families, neighbors, and kids to gather. Holly from The People’s Kitchen spoke as both a local business owner and Northside resident, saying the park gives families a place to build memories while also bringing more people to neighborhood restaurants, barber shops, and mom and pop businesses. One neighborhood resident said the park is a place “where our children can play” and where their “voices matter” and “laughter matters.”
Some of the best moments came from the youngest speakers, including members of GS Troop 8747, who helped with the ribbon cutting and talked about spending more time outside, meeting friends, and using the new splash pad. Mayor Reynolds also reminded everyone that investing in public space comes with a shared responsibility to take care of it, saying the day was also about getting to know new people, learning new things, and connecting with the city’s larger 40 in 10 parks plan.
Friendship Park is part of Bethlehem’s broader 40 in 10: Every Park in Ten Years vision, a plan to improve 40+ parks across the city over the next decade. The city says the plan followed 18 months of engagement, planning, and community discussion, with more than 4,000 people engaged and 833 community survey responses collected. Saturday’s celebration showed what that kind of investment can look like on the ground: a neighborhood park, rebuilt with community input, filled with people, and ready for a new chapter.
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