CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

Lights in the Parkway announced its closure Dec. 14 following a significant act of vandalism that caused extensive damage to holiday light displays, including restrooms at Lehigh Parkway. The vandalism has resulted in portable toilets being pushed into the river, bent light poles and posts and crushed light bulbs.

“We are actively assessing the full extent of the damage and determining the broader impact on the remainder of the Lights in the Parkway season. Preliminary assessments indicate that restoring the damaged displays will be difficult and costly during the current season,” a press release states.

Updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.

Residents and visitors who purchased tickets for Lights in the Parkway should contact the parks office for assistance with rebooking or refunds at 610-437-7757, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by email at events@allentownpa.gov.

The city has deployed its full complement of parks crews, who are simultaneously addressing the Dec. 13 snowstorm, assisting public works crews and responding to the vandalism while securing and evaluating the site.

City officials condemn all acts of vandalism and stress the incident impacts not only a beloved holiday tradition, but also the staff, volunteers and families who look forward to this event each year.

“While we continue to evaluate repair options, please know that every effort will be made to keep the Lights in the Parkway tradition going with the resources currently available,” the press release said.

This incident is being investigated by the Allentown Police Department. Anyone with information can contact the department at 610-437-7753. Tipsters are also encouraged to provide information related to the incident through the TIP411 application on www.allentownpa.gov/police.

The City of Allentown will release additional information once the damage assessment is complete and next steps are determined.