Much of the 80-year-old stonework in Bethlehem's Monocacy Park is suffering from degradation, vandals and wear according to Fox Environmental Center board member and city councilwoman Karen Dolan, so the organization began undertaking restoration of the iconic stone structures throughout the park this summer.

Utilizing five college interns, a preservation consultant and a consulting contractor, the restoration process began with the stone columns next to the Illick's Mill at the park's entrance. Students will remove deteriorated mortar, repoint the stone, and use a new micro grouting process by injecting grout into the columns to stabilize and hold them together, according to preservation consultant John Harry. Harry has already trained crews working on the Washington Monument after it suffered earthquake damage back in August 2011.

Dolan said that some funding for the project has already been secured through the Keystone Savings Foundation, a second grant application has been filed with another area foundation and that a capital campaign will be undertaken. She said the project has been endorsed by Mayor Bob Donchez and that this approach makes sense since the city cannot afford to do it. Fox Environmental Center board President Andrew Bollinger joined in making the announcement.

The five college student interns who have worked with Harry this summer are Rebecca Murray, a Lafayette College senior psychology major; Jessica Morris, a wildlife and conservation management major who is continuing her education at Delaware Valley College; Michelle Barakat, a Susquehanna University junior majoring in environmental science; Brittany Flynn, a senior at Lafayette College majoring in international affairs; and, Chris Nelson, a junior at Lafayette College majoring in environmental engineering.

In addition to Harry lending his expertise, E. J. Nickles, owner of Nickles Building and Design, LLC, is a consulting contractor on the stone restoration work.