Upper Macungie

6 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 UPPER MACUNGI E , PA villages have maintained their own identities which the township planners are keen to maintain and foster moving forward. “Some of the township’s neighborhoods are Lehigh Hills, Trexler Fields, Hidden Meadows, and Green Hills. These neighborhood names came about as residents moved in and adopted the name of the development that was first proposed. Our other smaller villages, with a post office and main street, have a mix of residences and businesses, and are a vital part of our community,” says Ibach. The commercial side of the township is made up of a healthy blend of smaller establishments, strip malls, and on its outskirts, Hamilton Crossing, a lifestyle center comprised of high- end retailers. Parkland School District is the public school system that serves several municipalities, including Upper Macungie Township. There is one high school, two middle schools, and nine elementary schools, and in the 2020-21 school year, a total of 9,541 students were enrolled. There are also several workforce development programs for residents run by companies in the area, and these companies also collaborate with local educational institutions. In addition. Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation has also started partnering with businesses and institutions to further these initiatives. Infrastructure in the area has lent itself well to assisting with so many businesses choosing to make Upper Macungie Township their home. “Our industrial zones follow our major infrastructure, and our industrial parks center around these routes, which allows trucks to avoid residential zones. We have Boston Beer, which bottles Sam Adams, in one of our industrial parks, a few bottled water companies, and many more,” says Martocci. The township is required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to create