DUNMORE – Work on James McHale Park’s new ball field and parking lot won’t wrap up until after the winter, but park patrons now have more new features to look forward to.
Lackawanna County commissioners this month awarded a $35,000 Re-Invest Program grant to Dunmore to further develop the park.
Michael McHale, borough council vice president and son of the park’s namesake, planned to use the grant to create a walking trail through the park.
Other plans for the money, depending on how far borough officials can stretch the dollars, include new lighting, landscaping and trash receptacles.
“We want to use it to beautify the park,” Mr. McHale said. “We have about $200,000 worth of ideas.”
James McHale Park, also known as Monroe Park, is next to the Dunmore Borough Community Center.
The area is Dunmore’s only borough-owned park, and Mr. McHale wants to transform it into a thriving recreation hub.
The park got a boost in 2009 when county commissioners provided funding for its playground, and donors and volunteers have recently come forward to install the new ball field and parking lot.
The park now has two ball fields, used by Dunmore Little League, and Mr. McHale has said tee-ball and PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) players will use the new, smaller field.
He said the weather delayed work on the new field and the parking lot that will accommodate 40 to 50 cars, and he hopes it will wrap up in the spring.
Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter
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