Housenick Park facts for kids
Housenick Park is a special kind of park in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania. It's called a "passive park" because it's designed for quiet activities like walking and enjoying nature, not for sports fields or playgrounds. The park is actually made up of two main parts: the Janet Johnston Housenick and William D. Housenick Memorial Park, and the Archibald Johnston Conservation Area. Together, they cover about 91 acres (37 hectares) of land.
The land for the park was a generous gift from Janet Johnston Housenick. She was the great-granddaughter of Archibald Johnston, who was the very first mayor of the combined city of Bethlehem.
Where is Housenick Park?
Housenick Park is located in the northwestern part of Bethlehem Township. It sits right along the Monocacy Creek, which is a smaller stream that flows into the Lehigh River.
You can get to the park by car, bike, or on foot. The main entrances are from Nazareth Pike and Christian Spring Road in Bethlehem Township. If you're driving, look for an unmarked lane on the west side of Christian Spring Road. This lane leads to the park's parking area. Once you arrive, you'll find a special kiosk with a map and helpful information about the park.
Right next to the park, there are two other properties that used to belong to the Johnston family. One is called the Christian Spring Spiritual Center. It was once the home of Archibald Johnston's son, and later his daughter. The other property is called "Camel's Hump Farm on the Johnston Estate." This old farm, built in 1836, was bought by a group called the Friends of Johnston. They are working to preserve it. Eventually, a trail will connect this farm to Housenick Park.
A Look Back at the Park's History
The land that makes up Housenick Park was once part of a much larger property. This big property, almost one square mile in size, was put together by Archibald Johnston in the late 1910s and early 1920s. He bought these lands during and after his time as mayor of Bethlehem.
Archibald Johnston named his large property "Camel's Hump Farms." He named it after a nearby hill that looked like a camel's hump. Johnston and his wife, Estelle Borhek Johnston, lived in a large house on the property. They lived there until they passed away in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
What Can You Do at Housenick Park?
Housenick Park is a place for quiet activities. You won't find sports fields or playground equipment here. Instead, the park has many paths and trails that wind through the land. These trails follow old private roads that Archibald Johnston built back in the 1920s.
The trails start from the parking lot. One path leads to the old Archibald Johnston Mansion, which people called the "big house." Other trails follow the Monocacy Creek. You can walk south along the creek to a bird blind, which is a hidden spot where you can watch birds without disturbing them. There's also a cement bridge. If you go north along the creek, you'll find a natural spring and a pump house. Another trail goes directly from the spring area back to the parking lot.
There are two information kiosks in the park. One is at the parking lot, and another is at the north end of the park near an old railroad crossing. These kiosks give you more details about interesting spots in the park. You'll also find trash cans at the parking area.
A new parking lot was built in 2015 and can hold 20 to 30 cars. The main information kiosk was moved to this new parking area.
It's important to know that there is no drinking water available at the park. However, Bethlehem Township does provide a portable restroom (porta potty) for visitors.
