Council Considering Artificial Christmas Tree for Dimmick Park

Christmas is only 12 or so weekends away and it was on the minds of Hellertown Borough Council members Monday as they discussed options for a Christmas tree in Dimmick Park, where for the first time the borough’s annual tree-lighting celebration will be held this year.

Council president Tom Rieger said an offer by a borough resident to donate a tree fell through because the tree is too large to safely be removed and its appearance was “very scraggly.”

In lieu of that, the borough is considering purchasing an artificial tree from Rileigh’s in Allentown, he said.

The tree goes up just “like scaffolding,” public works director Tom Henshaw said. “It’s something we could (put up) pretty easy.”

The total cost for one of these trees–which Rieger said would be similar in appearance to the artificial tree erected each year at the Promenade Shops–will likely be about $7,000, including adjacent sycamore tree lighting and decorations.

Rieger said the borough has about $4,000 to put toward the purchase of such a tree, and will approach the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce to request assistance with coming up with the remainder of the needed funds.

Where would the tree go?

Several options for its placement within the park were discussed, including on a grassy island near the flagpole by the bleachers, and on the bandshell stage.

Henshaw noted that if the tree were to be placed on the island near the flagpole a power conduit would have to be run there.

Council vice president Phil Weber said he would prefer that the borough put up a live tree.

The real tree could have a root ball, so it can be planted in the ground.

No final decisions were made about the Christmas tree at Monday’s meeting, and the discussion about it was tabled after councilman Gil Stauffer suggested that council members take a “field trip” to the park to survey potential locations for its placement on-site.

Council scheduled that field trip for Monday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public are welcome to attend, Rieger said.

The free annual Light-Up Night celebration sponsored by the chamber will be held in the park on Friday, Nov. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m.