Ontelaunee Park in Lynn Township was established in 1929 by Homer Nathan Snyder.

Many of its early attractions made the park a popular place for people to visit.

Coal car Engine No. 99 pulled passengers through a tunnel and around the swimming pool.

At one time, Ontelaunee Park had its own baseball team that played teams from the surrounding area.

The park, a fun, family friendly place for all ages to enjoy became such a popular destination the Reading Railroad created a stop there.

In the mid-1960s, Snyder sold the park to Shorty Long, who ran a country-western entertainment venue.

Notable entertainers, such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, performed there.

Children's television show host and cowgirl Sally Starr then rented the park from Long, who later sold it to John Kospiah.

He operated the park for many years before closing it down.

After that, the park became an overgrown swamp with many wires and pipes strung through it from its time as a trailer park.

Former Lynn Township Supervisor Donald Christ jump-started the park's renewal.

In 2000, he negotiated with John Kospiah's widow, Marion, to turn over the park to the township. Grant money from Lehigh County, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development, Lynn Township's Recreation Fund, Harry C. Trexler Trust, and The Century Foundation helped make the purchase possible.

The private sector helped with donations from New Tripoli Bank, Nestlé Waters/Deer Park Spring Water, and Junior Order of Mechanics.

In addition, $50,000 in individual donations helped purchase the park.

Over the years, New Tripoli Bank donated about $180,000 and Nestlé Waters North America/Deer Park Spring Water gave close to $200,000 to the park.

"When we got the park, it was very overgrown and in a sad state," Christ said. "It was full of weeds and some fires had destroyed parts of it.

"But thankfully this is when a group of students from Lehigh Carbon Technical Institute, Schnecks-ville, came to work on the park three separate times with $1 million worth of equipment to start the walking trail, put in the drainage and dig up things that were buried.

"Many Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts came to help as well and they provided many useful things, such as the colorful birdhouses.

"Lynn, Heidelberg, Lowhill and Weisenberg townships also did a great deal of work on the park."

Christ pointed out the Rotary Club of Allentown West erected the band shell with most of the work donated.

Masons built the pillars and put up the lights. Eric Lundberg donated thousands of dollars' worth of flowers and Tony Oswald constructed the bridge.

The pavilion was made possible by New Tripoli Bank, and Nestlé Waters North America/Deer Park Spring Water built the springhouse to showcase the natural springs at the park.

The Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society relocated and reconstructed the Zeisloff Log House inside the park.

The historical society also recreated Fort Everett on park grounds.

"Both structures bring many visitors to the park," Willard Snyder, co-president of the historical society said. "We teach school children about their history and how they were constructed.

"Without the park, we wouldn't have all of this in one place, so it's a good match between the township and the historical society that benefits everyone in the community."

On Oct. 6, the Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society will host Pioneer Day, offering kids' hay rides, and displays of wool spinning, rug weaving and apple butter making, among other activities.

"There's a lot of pride in this park because many people participated in its revitalization," Christ said. "They wanted a place where they could go with their families.

"Now on any given Saturday, we have soccer games taking place, a new playground and nice walking trail being enjoyed and possibly a wedding happening in the pavilion.

"So many people have had a hand in this transformation. It's just amazing."