Quality of Life is the economic well being, life style, and environment that an area offers. Improving the quality of life in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley is one of AEDC’s goals. We seek to strike a balance between encouraging the growth of our economy and strengthening quality of life in our region. We believe that directing development to existing, urban communities helps to preserve the qualities that we enjoy in the Lehigh Valley. Some of those qualities include:
- Quality, affordable housing, found in architecturally rich neighborhoods such as Old Allentown and Old Faigrounds, with Walk Scores in the 80s.
- World-class medical facilities, right in our downtowns, including Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke’s Hospital, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, and Sacred Heart Hospital as well as excellent senior care facitlies like Phoebe Home.
- Life-long learning opportunities and excellent higher education with Muhlenberg College, Cedar Crest College and Lehigh Carbon Community College in the City and Lehigh University,DeSales University, Lafayette College, Kutztown University,Moravian College and others in the Lehigh Valley.
- A beautiful city parks system, featuring over 2,000 acres of green space
and 25 miles of trails, linking recreational activities to passive enjoyment of nature. Enjoy disc golf, fishing, swimming pools, basketball, handball, splash parks and more. Allentown parks host dozens of events each year as well, including Mayfair, Lehigh Valley Sports Fest and concerts. - Outside of the City, there are ample outdoor recreational opportunities, including mountain biking in Jim Thorpe, skiing at Blue Mountain, fishing in the Delaware River, birding at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, rafting in the Poconos, or hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
- The downtown arts district, features Lehigh Valley cultural institutions like the Baum School of Art, the Allentown Art Museum, Allentown Symphony Hall, America On Wheels Museum, and the Lehigh County Heritage Museum
- A growing sports scene, anchored by the Lehigh Valley Velodrome and Allentown’s own Lehigh Valley IronPigs, AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2013, Allentown will host the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers at a new downtown hockey arena. Every year, the Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon and the St. Luke’s Half Marathon pass through Allentown’s streets. Allentown has also hosted legs of major international cycling competitions, and is prepared to do so again.