From Kemp’s Woods to Kutztown Park: A Full, Living History

At the turn of the twentieth century, the tract locals knew as Kemp’s Grove (also Kemp’s Woods) was the last substantial remnant of old-growth hardwoods in and around Kutztown—dominated by venerable white oaks that had shaded Sunday-school picnics and family gatherings for decades. Its owner, John Kemp, resolved to sell the property as development swept the Lehigh and East Penn valleys, but—crucially—shared the town’s wish that the grove be preserved. In August 1901, civic leaders convened at the Keystone House, formed committees, and launched a $1-per-share public subscription to purchase and protect the land “exclusively and perpetually” for park use. Kemp offered the grove at $350 per acre, with just $800 down and the balance held at 5% interest—an offer explicitly made “for preservation rather than destruction.” By September 21, 1901, the Kutztown Park Association had secured a signed agreement for 9 acres and 4 perches at a total of $3,158.75, possession effective April 1. The movement drew praise from beyond town—Macungie’s paper urged action; the Rev. M. J. Bieber of Binghamton sent a dollar “towards its perpetuation,” voicing the community’s plea, “Woodsman, spare the ax.”

Organizing a Park: Shares, Boards, and the First Improvements

Formal governance followed the purchase: in April 1902 the Association elected its first board (Dr. H. W. Saul, president; W. E. Herman, vice president; B. F. Reider, secretary; Fred N. Baer, treasurer). Subscriptions—functioning like small shares of stock—gave donors a vote at annual meetings. With funds and volunteer labor, the Association planted nearly 200 trees, cleared brush, and raised a new 20′×50′ dining hall. They also learned to “open big”: the 1904 season debuted with St. Paul’s Reformed Sunday-School Strawberry Festival in the park, band music by the Kutztown Band, and an outdoor supper—an early template for using festive occasions to fuel both attendance and fundraising.

Dining Hall

“A Diamond as Smooth as a Floor”: The Athletic Era Arrives

In July 1902, the Park Association purchased about four acres from James S. Treichler to host a first-class baseball diamond, leased to the newly organized Kutztown Athletic Association (itself funded by public subscriptions). The result quickly became a regional draw for regular and championship play. By May 1905, the town staged season-opening pageantry—parades, the Band, and marquee matchups (Kutztown vs. Easton)—cementing the park as a sporting as well as social center between Reading and Allentown.

Rails, Rides, and the “Pleasure Resort”: An Amusement Park Takes Shape

As the park matured, it developed the mix of amusements people still remember: a banquet and dance hall (later a roller rink), a shooting gallery and penny arcade, a miniature steam train, a merry-go-round, bumper cars in the “scooter building,” restaurant with an artesian well, caretaker’s residence, two ball diamonds with grandstand and bleachers, and a major stop on the Allentown & Reading traction (trolley) line.

Allentown & Reading Traction Company Trolley

• Carousel (1916): Housed in a big octagonal building with a concrete floor, the carousel—erected by Jacob Plan of Cetronia (long associated with Dorney Park’s machine)—featured 20 animals, two coaches, and an electric organ. The building later burned in the 1930s; today’s basketball court occupies the site.
• Steam Train: Operated until a derailment in 1909 injured riders; the train moved on after that season.
• Scooter Building: The sturdy pavilion that once hosted bumper cars survives; it remains a picnic and events space and stands alongside the band shell as a rare survivor of the amusement era.

Miniature Railway at Kutztown Park

Scooter Building at Kutztown Park

The Band Shell: A Civic Auditorium in the Open Air

Long before a formal venue, musicians played on a simple platform in the park’s midst. In 1914 the community dedicated the purpose-built Kutztown Park Band Shell with Charles M. Schwab (Bethlehem Steel) present and the Bethlehem Steel Band performing two concerts; Dr. James S. Grim delivered the opening address. A pavilion (1922) added covered seating. From the 1920s on, the shell functioned as the town’s open-air auditorium—hosting Kutztown Band concerts, ceremonies “rain or shine,” and ever more sophisticated programs. By the 1930s and early 1940s, public-address systems amplified performances across the grounds; the Allentown Band delivered as many as five concerts for Kutztown Day in August 1939. The shell, paired with the pavilion, still anchors summer culture in the park.

Kutztown Park Band Stand

Kutztown Park Band Shell

Kutztown Park Band Shell and Pavilion

Kutztown Park Band Shell and Pavilion

Joy and Sorrow: Kutztown Day, the Centennial Sandbox, and Tragedy (1907–1915)

• Kutztown Day (Aug. 11, 1907): Rededication of the 1876 Centennial Monument, parades, reenactments, and concerts marked a milestone in the park’s role as the town commons. Across 118 years, the celebration has been canceled only four times—during World War II and again during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Centennial Sandbox (1915): A centennial gift to the borough and a remarkably durable artifact of early play culture—still in use today and long neighbored by towering steel slides and heavy wooden swings.
• Fireworks Tragedy (July 4, 1908): A defective sky rocket killed 19-year-old Katie F. Machemer, two weeks from her wedding. A coroner ruled the death accidental; park directors and the fireworks company were exonerated. The event remains the most somber memory in the park’s annals.

Playground at Kutztown Park

Centennial Sandbox still in use today

From Private Association to Public Park (1930s–today)

Maintaining amusements and grounds strained the Park Association’s finances, and bankruptcy loomed in the early 1930s. Around 1935, citizens authorized Borough Council to purchase the park for $16,000, converting it to a municipal park and enabling sustained investment. Over time the park expanded into Maxatawny Township; today it covers about 43.24 acres with five baseball fields, a multipurpose field, tennis and pickleball courts, and two basketball courts.

• Baseball: Little League (sponsored by service clubs) began in 1959; KYAA runs youth baseball today, while Legion baseball remains active through Hoch-Balthasar Post 480.
• Easter Egg Hunts: A tradition dating to the 1920s (Kutztown Fire Company), later carried on by the Jaycees into the 1980s and then the Optimist Club.
• Veterans Way (Nov. 11, 2022): Dedication and ribbon cutting at the South Laurel Street entrance; the Vietnam Veterans Breakfast Group sponsored a community-funded monument (~$16,000).

Vietnam Monument

Play for Every Generation: The Playground Story (1910s–present)

From the early swings, see-saws, and merry-go-round, around the Centennial Sandbox to the towering mid-century steel slides and swivel slides of local memory, the playground has evolved alongside safety standards and family expectations. A 2009 master parkland study guided accessibility upgrades; in 2014 the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded $150,000 to replace aging equipment, with 2015 installations adding accessible, modern structures and resilient surfacing. Today, shaded benches, a gazebo, and even a Little Free Library frame a busy play area positioned near the band shell—so families can drift between concerts, picnics, and play.

merry-go-round at Kutztown Park playground – circa 1970s

see-saws at Kutztown Park playgrounds – 1970s

playground at Kutztown Park – scooter building in background

Wheels in the Heart of the Park: The Skate Park (2019–present)

After a near miss on town streets, parents and advocates (notably Deborah Clauss and Andrew Kunkel) formed the Kutztown Community Skate Park Association, partnering with the borough to bring a safe wheeled-sports space onto the former roller-rink site—intentionally sited where parents can watch both playground and skate area. Funding blended $4,000 from the Borough, a $5,000 Tony Hawk Foundation grant, roughly $16,000 in local donations, and in-kind business support (including signage). The park—about 2,000 sq ft, averaging 35 visitors/day—opened with a festive May 18, 2019 grand event featuring 15 contests for skateboard, scooter, BMX, and inline participants, with prizes for “Best Run” and even “Best Fall.” Expansion has been under active discussion.

Kutztown Park Roller Rink

Kutztown Park Roller Rink

Kutztown Park Roller Rink

Skate Park

The Summer Soundtrack: A Century of Concerts

The town’s habit of gathering for music—born on a simple platform, institutionalized with the 1914 shell—grew into a dependable summer series. By the 1930s–40s, amplification made evening programs audible across the grounds; by mid-century and beyond, touring municipal bands alternated with hometown ensembles. In recent seasons, the Borough’s Concert Series in the Kutztown Park Band Shell has mixed tradition and variety—local school jazz bands, heritage ensembles like the Ringgold Band, and classic-rock crowd-pleasers—keeping the shell what it has always been: Kutztown’s open-air auditorium.

Address, Access, and Continuity

Located at 440 East Main Street, the park’s expansion, amenities, and programming reflect a through-line back to 1901: community stewardship. From $1 subscriptions to grants and volunteer labor; from trolleys and steam trains to scooters and skate decks; from band platforms to amplified shells—Kutztown Park has repeatedly reinvented itself while honoring its origins as “a lovely breathing spot” preserved against the odds.

Visiting Today: Amenities, Tips, and a Handy Map

What you’ll find now (seasonal availability noted):

• Band Shell & Summer Concerts. The Borough runs a formal “Concert Series in the Kutztown Park Band Shell,” with dates and printable flyer posted each season. Programs typically run summer evenings; check the current year’s schedule before you go. (org)
• Playgrounds & Open Greens. Modern play equipment near the band shell, shaded benches, picnic tables, pavilions, and large lawn areas for blankets and lawn chairs. (The Borough’s Parks page is the best up-to-date reference for amenities.)
• Athletic Courts & Fields. Baseball/softball fields, basketball, tennis/pickleball, and walking/loop paths. (Facilities are typically open May–October; see “Hours & Rules.”)
• Skate Park (former roller-rink site). A poured-concrete, multi-use park with features like quarter pipes, banks, a funbox, open bowl, ledges, and manual pad. Helmets strongly encouraged.
• Pavilions & Kitchens (reservable). The Borough offers online info and forms; reservations normally run spring–fall (closed off-season). (org)
• Restrooms & Utilities (in-season). Restrooms, utilities, and kitchens are available during the official operating season; facilities are closed off-season though the grounds remain open for passive use.https://www.kutztownboro.org/departments/parks/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Hours & rules (summary):

• Operating season & hours. “Officially open” roughly mid-April through end of October, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. (grounds can be enjoyed year-round, but facilities are off).
• Alcohol & grills. No alcohol permitted; gas grills not allowed (charcoal policies may vary with pavilion rules—check your rental packet).
• Permitted only on a leash ≤ 6 ft and not within play areas or athletic fields; separate rules apply to the designated Dog Park (registration required).
• Use designated lots only (no parking on grass); Borough may designate or close areas during events.

If you’re planning a visit (quick checklist):

• Pick a program. If you want music, confirm the Band Shell schedule; some concerts start at 7 p.m.—bring lawn chairs/blankets.
• Reserve early (pavilions). Peak weekends fill up; the last day for reservations is the first Friday in November, and facilities close until early May.
• Family setup. The playground sits close to the band shell and picnic pavilions, which is convenient if you’re splitting time between music and play. (See map link below.)
• Skate gear. For the Skate Park, bring a helmet and pads; expect mixed use (skateboards, scooters, BMX/inline) and a steady crowd in good weather.
• Restrooms & water. Available in season only; plan accordingly in early spring/late fall.
• Pool is nearby (not inside the park). The municipal Kutztown Pool is across town with its own seasonal hours and admission.

Address, wayfinding, and map:

• Park address for GPS: 440 East Main Street, Kutztown, PA 19530. Some directories list 439 E. Main—either will get you there.
• Official park map & building info: The Borough’s Parks page includes a “Park Map & Building Info” image that shows pavilion names, band shell, courts, and parking areas—use it to choose the best lot and pavilion.

Tip: For large events like Kutztown Day, expect heavier foot traffic and temporary parking guidance inside the park—arrive early and follow Borough postings.

This visiting section is based on current Borough postings, rental forms, and event pages. Always re-check the Borough site for last-minute updates (weather, closures, or schedule changes). (kutztownboro.org)