Construction on the first phase of improvements at Neffs Valley Park is scheduled to begin during the week of July 20, according to a public notice issued by North Whitehall Township. The project is expected to take approximately two to three months, weather permitting, and the park will be temporarily closed during construction to ensure the safety of visitors and construction crews.

The first phase will include removing the existing parking lot from the floodway and constructing a new entrance and parking area along Park Valley Road. Township officials also plan to install a new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible walking trail around the park’s perimeter, plant native trees throughout the property, install an evergreen buffer to screen neighboring properties, and complete site grading, drainage, landscaping and related improvements.

A second phase, planned for 2027, will add a new pedestrian bridge over Coplay Creek along with riparian buffer plantings to improve park accessibility while enhancing the surrounding stream corridor.

Township officials said relocating the parking area out of the floodway will reduce long-term flood-related maintenance costs and better protect the environment.

Because Neffs Valley Park is located near the headwaters of Coplay Creek, an impaired waterway, the project is intended to improve stormwater management and support the health of the creek and its ecosystem.

The improvements are part of the township’s long-term vision for Neffs Valley Park outlined in the 2022 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan.

Officials said the project will create new opportunities for walking, nature appreciation and passive recreation while improving accessibility and preserving the park’s natural resources. The park’s disc golf course will remain after the improvements are completed and the park reopens.