They got this ALL wrong regarding Philadelphia. The river trail/walk in Philadelphia is on the Schuylkill, not the Delaware....but this is an exciting project. Gonna' see if I can't meet-up with this Dr. Minora.
Engineering work just the beginning for river project
BY STACY BROWN
STAFF WRITER
03/26/2007
The Lackawanna River could become a key element in Scranton’s economic renaissance.
City and county officials, along with community leaders and river caretakers, are working on developing a river walk that would begin in downtown Scranton and link several municipalities to the north and south. Although costs are unknown and specifics are few, officials are optimistic about the prospect of the project, which they hope will spark economic development.
“There is engineering work under way downtown,” said Bernie McGurl, executive director of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association, one of several agencies involved in the plans for the river walk. “We need to reach agreements with property owners to acquire right of ways, but hopefully we can see construction begin on this in the next 18 to 24 months.”
Other agencies working on the project include the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, Lackawanna County commissioners, North Scranton Neighborhood Association and Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
Eye on finish line
Once funding is secured, development would begin shortly thereafter, and completion of the river walk could come as soon as three years, Mr. McGurl said.
Funding is expected to come from state and federal grants, he said. Local officials are also hoping to garner congressional support for the project.
The river walk would be a downtown jewel between Seventh Avenue and Olive Street, said Barry Minora, a North Scranton medical doctor and community leader responsible for several local revitalization projects. It would extend through North Scranton into Dickson City and include sections of Archbald and Jessup. A trail along the river would extend more than 30 miles from Duryea to Carbondale.
Dr. Minora has been pushing for the creation of the river walk as an economic engine along the way for restaurants, shops and hotels. Officials envision bustling paths loaded with students headed to school, shoppers off to market and residents simply enjoying nature.
One key to the development is the renovation of the former Central New Jersey depot on West Lackawanna Avenue, which was purchased nearly 10 years ago by businessman Jerry Donahue. His plans include converting the depot into a retail complex.
Officials say the river walk would be a boon to the area.
“There isn’t any doubt that this would do wonders for the city and the county,” Mayor Chris Doherty said. “There also isn’t any doubt that this is going to happen.”
Good blueprints
The local project concept is an adaptation of successful river walks in San Antonio and Philadelphia.
The San Antonio River Walk is a network of walkways around the San Antonio River, linking several major attractions one story beneath downtown. Lined by shops and restaurants, the river walk annually pumps millions of dollars into the local economy and has become an important part of that city’s urban fabric and a tourist attraction.
The river walk recently constructed in Philadelphia could be duplicated here, said Dr. Minora.
The river area has become one of Philadelphia’s best places to mingle, with food stands, festivals and a bird’s-eye view of the Delaware River, he said.
“Gov. Ed Rendell knew what he was doing with the Philadelphia waterfront,” Dr. Minora said. “The one here would be akin to Philadelphia, although a bit smaller. People don’t realize that we’re potentially sitting on something great, something special like they have in San Antonio and now Philadelphia.”
Contact the writer:
sbrown@timesshamrock.com