Bethlehem's first mayor, Archibald Johnston, was a man of contradictions. He was part of the Bethlehem Steel Company's management team who refused to negotiate with strikers who wanted Sundays off and 12 1/2 cents per hour. But during the Great Depression, he converted his Camel's Hump farm into a collective for farmers to share and barter different products. At the Steel, he was involved in making the machinery of war, but as mayor, he was an active proponent of public health. His steel company is now the largest brownfield in the United States, but his lands along an important recharging point in the Monocacy Creek, served as a refuge, not just for him, but for native trout and even the Bald Eagle.

In one of his last actions as Northampton County executive, John Stoffa is trying to preserve Johnston's land, something he calls the central park of the Lehigh Valley.

Located along the south side of Route 22 near the Route 191 exit, and then extending south as far as the City of Bethlehem, Camel's Hump Farm is smaller than it used to be. Much of the land has been developed. But what remains is still much like it was when Johnston lived there. Thanks to the generosity of Johnston granddaughter Janet Housenick, Bethlehem Township is the owner of a 55-acre passive use park, which includes the expansive colonial style mansion that Johnston built. Housenick even set aside $2 million to care for the lands.

That's not all. Before her death, Housenick gave the county what is now known as the 36-acre Archibald Johnston Conservation Area. Straddling Monocacy Creek, this land is adjacent to Housenick Park.

But other lands once owned by Johnston are being eyed by developers. Central Moravian Church owns 26 acres along the west side of Route 191 and east side of Housenick Park. The Leckonby Estate owns another 18 acres, located along Santee Mill Road in Bethlehem, on the south side of Housnick Park. Both sites are ideal for "luxury" apartments. The land on Route 191 is ripe for yet another Scheetz gas station or strip mall.

Though the Moravian Church and Leckonby have both been pressured, they've resisted temptation so far and have entered into agreements with the county to sell to the Natural Lands Trust. The Central Moravian Church has signed a letter of intent with the county to sell its land for $367,500 from the county's open space fund, with a matching grant from Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources. Settlement is planned next April. There is also an agreement to sell the Leckonby tract for $290,000 in open space funds, with a matching DCNR grant.

This will enable the preservation of a cold-water limestone stream with wild trout. The surrounding lands will help preserve that watershed and minimize storm water runoff downstream, like the run off that ruined Musikfest in Bethlehem two years ago. It is possible to link up to paths along the Monocacy leading south to the D&L trail, and north to the Nor-Bath Trail. It would present a seamless park and preserve system, with the Johnston Mansion as a focal point for education, history and community events.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of this open space project is its potential for community gardens, in which residents will be able to grow and harvest crops.

But will it happen?

It's not completely environmentally sensitive land. It's not completely a farm. It's not completely a park. It's what they call a "tweener," something with aspects of each. The Open Space Advisory Board gave its blessing to this project at a meeting at Northampton Community College last Thursday afternoon, but that's the easy part.

The plan will need the approval of county council has well.