SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Enhancing city life is the force behind pushing forward with major projects in the Electric City.
From park revitalizations to innovative safety programs, the city's agenda is packed with initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for its residents.
Parks across Scranton continue to get upgrades hoping to welcome in residents by the summer.
"Weston field, the new pool is coming along very quickly, Connell is coming online well. Weston and Connell are a bit ahead of Nay Aug, Nay Aug is a bigger project as you know, Nay Aug includes infrastructure underneath not just for phase one but also for phase two," explained Mayor Paige Cognetti (D), Scranton.
Beyond recreation, Scranton is tackling safety.
A new county-wide violence intervention program, known as GVI, is expected to launch by the end of 2025.
"We are doing this as a community, not just in the confines of Scranton, but the whole county because we know violence and youth activities and support for families that doesn't just stay in the confines of our city limits. We've got over $800,000 put aside from the rescue plan to be able to stand up for that organization," stated Cognetti.
Plus, Scranton continues to beef up its police force and their skills.
"Really investing in our police department, that's in training, that's in recruitment, that's in technology. We have some technology tools coming online here in 2025 that we'll be excited to show off to the residents," added Cognetti.
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This city is also focusing on revitalizing Scranton by intensifying efforts to acquire and repurpose blighted properties.
"We're always looking to add arrows to our quiver about how we can really accelerate getting some of these properties either demolished or rehabbed, whatever is the best thing, so we're looking at a conservatorship program where we would be able to maybe get a property turn around and get it rebuilt more quickly," commented Cognetti.
Following the devastating floods of September 2023, flood protection is a top priority. With the help of ARPA funds, the city is committed to getting stormwater projects.
"We are going to do everything we can with those dollars over the course of the next two years to get those projects done, from East Mountain to Keyser Valley, Minooka, up to North Scranton, we're focused on that," said Cognetti.
Plus, Mayor Cognetti tells 28/22 news that the scaffolding on city hall should be coming down soon and the city has plans to start street-scaping projects in downtown Scranton this year.
