Keeping busy in Bethlehem: A look back at news stories from the city in 2025

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — There was a little bit of everything happening in the Lehigh Valley over the past year.

As for the city of Bethlehem, it’s been 12 months chock-full of news of historic preservation projects, political protests, park upgrades on the horizon and first-responder agency advancements and staffing woes.

Here's a year-in-review, mostly in chronological order, highlighting some of more than 200 LehighValleyNews.com stories focused on Bethlehem and the surrounding area:

Q1

Halfway through January, Bethlehem swore in seven new firefighters in front of a town hall full of BFD faithful.

Mayor J. William Reynolds called federal funding freezes “an existential threat” to citizens on Jan. 29.

On Feb. 5, public commenters at a Bethlehem City Council meeting said officials should pass a welcoming city ordinance amid increased activity from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement around the country.

In the weeks following, a mature mother bald eagle known for nesting in Saucon Park died of bird flu.

Around that time, concerned advocates of immigrants used the dais at City Council to ask for broader action in protecting undocumented residents.

Officials ultimately did not propose a welcoming city ordinance this past year.

Police Chief Michelle Kott said her department would remain “laser-focused on trying to provide the best quality public safety services to our community” while also following federal law.

In early March, Bethlehem shared its 10-year park improvements plan with the public for the first time — with a playground at Friendship Park as a backdrop.

The spot at 247 E. North St. is in for nearly $2 million in upgrades, including a public-access splash pad and new basketball court.

Near the end of March, Wind Creek Bethlehem announced the opening of its new table games dealer training school at The Outlets at Wind Creek.

And in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, more than 100 people joined together at City Hall to raise a flag in support of their fellow humans during what they said are turbulent times.

Q2

Come April, and through the rest of the year, public commenters remained active at City Council meetings.

Some advocated for their friends who were experiencing homelessness and lived in tents along the D&L Trail, as was the case at the April 1 meeting.

Flooding from Hurricane Ida took the retaining wall at Saucon Creek out of commission in 2021. Using a $200,000 state grant, the city facilitated a number of upgrades for Saucon Park even beyond the wall improvements, such as a new swing set with ADA access and a sensory space and calming area.

Later in April, the 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House at Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter opened its doors again to the public for the first time in 20 years.
UntitledCome May Day, a workers’ rights march in Bethlehem brought together about 250 people ahead of a rally at the United Steelworkers union hall, where the occasion appeared to at least double in participants.

The following week, a massive apartment fire in South Bethlehem turned out to be the largest one regional Red Cross officials had seen in more than a decade, according to an organization spokesperson.

On another note regarding Bethlehem Fire, the department’s union was the first statewide to make use of a new esophageal precancer testing option for its members, current and retired.

Mayor Reynolds, a Democrat, won the mayoral primary election in May against Bethlehem City Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith. Reynolds’ campaign focused on paying down city debt, creating jobs and investing in public safety and infrastructure.

In early June, Lehigh Valley Health Network, now part of Jefferson Health, broke ground on an emergency department expansion that would about double the size of the existing ER at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg.

An early morning "worksite enforcement operation" conducted by federal immigration entities at the fire-damaged Five10 Flats building in South Bethlehem ended with 17 construction workers being arrested for alleged violations.
UntitledThe following day, hundreds of people protested the arrests just across from the hotel site, also marching to City Hall.

Fire Capt. Matthew Griffin was chosen the Bethlehem department’s newest chief. He was the third in just over a year.

Later in June, city Electrical Bureau Chief Greg Cryder shared more on the Bethlehem Star’s 238 new LED bulbs shining atop South Mountain. The replacement in April was the Star’s first in 15 years.

And to close out June, a broad piece on the Moravians and their role amid America’s founding came together ahead of the Fourth of July.
Untitled

Q3

Mid-July was marked by five years since the passing of U.S. Rep. John Lewis. Hundreds gathered at Rose Garden Park to pay their respects.

In August, Norfolk Southern railroad police asked for city police assistance in breaking up a homeless encampment along the Lehigh River.

Lehigh Little League brought home its first regional title in 74 years of play — and its first state championship win in more than two decades.

Later in September, a new recording studio opening in West Bethlehem sought to nurture community through creative projects.

Two Bethlehem homeowners rallied neighborhood support against developers planning to put up townhouses on adjacent lots. The development also potentially could put legacy shade trees at risk of having to come down, they said.

Soon after, the city Zoning Hearing Board denied an appeal from one of the developers — marking at least a temporary win for opposing homeowners. The other developer’s bid for a zoning variance was later denied in November.

Just over in Hellertown, the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill on West Walnut Street officially was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Q4

In October, Stefko-Pembroke neighborhood residents, some in Halloween costumes, came together to learn more about a major neighborhood redesign in the works.

The following week, ArtsQuest announced the latest behind a new $32 million cultural arts center going up along West Third Street in South Bethlehem.

Protesting President Trump’s policies, thousands of marchers took to Broad Street in Bethlehem after a half-hour rally at Rose Garden Park, ending outside City Hall at Payrow Plaza. It was the second "No Kings" protest of the year.
UntitledSome white paint went a long way for one stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue prone for passing traffic to crash into cars parked on the curb.

A Bethlehem Fire union study showed the department, with a number of vacancies and retirements at hand, does not meet a number of national emergency-response standards.

Democrats won all four open seats on Bethlehem City Council in the November general election. Mayor Reynolds also secured another four-year term.

Over in Bethlehem Township, Notre Dame High School broke ground on a new three-story academic field house set to open to students the first day of the 2026-27 school year.

After two years, the new Walnut Street Garage opened in late November between Main and New streets.

Thanksgiving brought out dozens of people to New Bethany in South Bethlehem for a giveaway of turkeys and other holiday staples.

A 43-foot Christmas spruce came to life outside City Hall the day after Thanksgiving, bringing a swarm of people to Payrow Plaza.

Despite continued push from the public in support of expanding firefighter staffing, a city council majority in December denied budget amendments proposed to make the appropriate hires. The city is conducting a related study on staffing and apparatus in 2026.

As for Hellertown’s fire force, borough officials in December approved a stipend program offering extra financial incentive for daytime personnel.

The Bethlehem Police Department is having staffing troubles of its own ahead of a new collective bargaining agreement at the end of 2026, according to officials. Officers are left “doing more with less,” Chief Kott said.

On a frigid mid-December morning, authorities from Norfolk Southern and the city began overseeing the displacement of a homeless encampment near the Lehigh River.

At the following City Council meeting, officials approved a 2026 municipal spending plan calling for no increase to the property-tax rate.

On Christmas Eve, 10 Christian clergy members called for solidarity with Palestine. One prominent local Jewish clergy member asked for broader discussions on the matter between the two parties.