🎵 OUR MISSION: MUSIC IN THE PARK FESTIVAL & FUNDRAISER

The Music in the Park Festival & Fundraiser was born from a singular, powerful vision: to protect the historic heartbeat of Pennsylvania while nurturing the well-being of the people who call it home. Established in 1902, Bushkill Park and Grove in Easton, PA (Northampton County) is not just a collection of vintage attractions; it is a living sanctuary for community joy, offering enriching events that foster connection among people of all backgrounds and identities. Our mission is to ensure that this landmark continues “Making Memories Since 1902” by merging the preservation of our physical heritage with a modern commitment to mental health, emotional wellness, and the celebration of diverse love stories.

In a unique cross-county partnership, this initiative is powered by the professional expertise of Positive Peer Mentoring (PPM) and Inclusive Marriage Moments (IMM), both based in Sunbury, PA (Northumberland County). By bringing these two missions to the historic grounds of Bushkill Park, we are creating a holistic environment where "community" is a verb. With PPM, we prioritize accessible mental and emotional support, ensuring the festival is a safe and restorative space for all.

Through IMM, we are leading the charge to revitalize the Carousel Banquet Hall into a premier, inclusive sanctuary where every couple—regardless of background, identity, or faith—can begin their legacy in a place that has honored love for over a century.

We believe that a community that remembers its past is better equipped to care for its future. In the wake of recent floods and the challenges they brought, we remain committed to adaptive restoration and community resilience. Following the successful restoration of the 1918 Hilarity Hall, our focus now turns to the Whip Building and the Carousel Banquet Hall.

Every ticket sold and every dollar donated serves a dual purpose: it stabilizes the structural integrity of a Pennsylvania icon and expands the reach of accessible therapy and inclusive ministerial services. Together, we invite everyone to engage with us—through attending, volunteering, or contributing their talents—building a future where history is preserved, every hero is honored, and love truly knows no limits.

🏛️ Bushkill Park: Mission Statement & Historical Overview

Prepared for FurFest at the Grove & Community Supporters

Part I: Mission Statement

Our Mission

To preserve, protect, and celebrate Bushkill Park as a living sanctuary of regional heritage, tactile memory, and community connection—fostering resilience, inclusive social stewardship, and joyful perseverance through the enduring heartbeat of the midway.

Core Pillars

Historical Preservation: Safeguarding rare folk-art mechanics, vintage structures (such as the 1918 Bar'l of Fun and the 1928 C.W. Parker Carousel), and tactile traditions for future generations.
Community Stewardship: Operating as an inclusive gathering space that champions human restoration—welcoming local youth, volunteers, and the overlooked into a culture of mutual care and shared purpose.
Environmental Resilience: Mastering the rhythm of the Bushkill Creek through adaptive engineering, rapid post-flood recovery, and unwavering local dedication.

Part II: Historical Overview

Roots in the Trolley Era (1902–1932)

Founded in 1902 as a trolley-line destination by the Easton & Nazareth Railroad (Northampton Traction interests), Bushkill Park was originally constructed to stimulate weekend ridership and provide working-class families with an accessible escape. Sited along the picturesque banks of the Bushkill Creek in Forks Township, Pennsylvania, the park offered nickel rides, picnic groves, dance pavilions, and roller skating, quickly becoming a beloved civic commons.

The Long Era: Stewardship and Survival (1933–1989)

The enduring soul of the park was forged during the Great Depression when Thomas "Pop" Long leased the property in 1933 (purchasing it outright in 1939) alongside his wife, Mabel "Mom" Long. Mabel, a former surgical nurse, brought a maternal vigilance and hospital-grade standard of cleanliness to the midway, while Thomas anchored it with hand-carved menagerie figures. Together with their successors, the Long family maintained the park's low-margin, high-loyalty community model through mid-century shifts, anchoring regional memory with enduring attractions like the Bar'l of Fun.

The Coma Years and Environmental Trauma (2004–2018)

Following decades of changing leisure economics and competing mega-parks, Bushkill Park faced catastrophic challenges when a series of severe floods—most notably from Hurricane Ivan in 2004—submerged grounds under feet of water. Successive floods, compounding insurance hurdles, and structural damage forced prolonged closures, leading to mothballed rides, vandalism, and an era local observers termed the park's "coma". Yet, invisible labor by dedicated stewards kept the physical DNA of the park intact in the shadows.

Rebirth and Community Stewardship (2019–Present)

In 2019, under the management of John and Sue Klein (J & S Klein, LLC), the park entered a period of strategic, quiet restoration culminating in a surprise 2020 reopening that offered profound psychological relief to a weary region. Today, bolstered by grassroots volunteers, community fundraisers, and historical partnerships (including the return of the 1928 C.W. Parker Carousel in partnership with the Children's Home of Easton), Bushkill Park operates as a vibrant hybrid of living museum, event venue, and community sanctuary.

Through grease, wood, and an unwavering commitment to the community, Bushkill Park continues to prove that while waters may rise, the heart of the midway remains undefeated.

Continue Reading

General Mission & History — The big picture: why Bushkill Park matters and what we're building together.
Read the Mission & History →
The Heart of the Midway — The full overview: from trolley park origins to the 2020 surprise reopening.
Read the Overview →
The Keepers of the Midway — The Klein family, Elwood Smith, and the human stories behind the restoration.
Meet the Keepers →
Rebuilding the Heart — Hilarity Hall, the Carousel, Mom & Pop's Café, and the art of mechanical stewardship.
Explore the Restoration →
Floods & Resilience — How the park learned to "speak the creek's language" and outrun the water.
Read the Flood Story →
Support Our Mission — How you can help preserve this historic landmark.
Join the Keepers →
Further Reading & Resources — Articles, films, archives, and more for those who want to dig deeper.
Explore the Archive →