SCRANTON--Albert Young of Scranton says when he retired several years ago he thought it would be a time for him to relax, kick back and not have to worry about a whole lot.
Instead hes spent most of his retirement urging local and state agencies to fix an erosion issue that's tearing up his yard.
"The only thing that is holding this area here is the roots from the holly bushes," Albert Young said.
Having a nice backyard has become a thing of the past for Young.
"You can see the open conduit," he said.
Young has been dealing with erosion problems for several years now, and it is only getting worse.
In June, Newswatch 16 was there to get an update on the situation.
When we went back on Monday it was apparent that the steel plates have caved into a hole that just keeps growing.
"I hope they come very soon because this hole is getting bigger by the day," Young said.
Young blames his yard cave-in on the nearby Meadowbrook Creek which runs underneath his property.
He says erosion keeps washing away the dirt, allowing his yard to cave in.
About 15 years ago Young says he remembers there being a small hole in his yard about one foot big.
Now years later you can see its grown a lot.
He estimates it's about 14 feet long and eight feet deep.
"It's a little scary because I see where the bushes had been intact a few weeks ago and now they're about ready to collapse," neighbor Michele Antognoli said.
Antognoli lives next door and has a four-year-old daughter.
She says for now -- the backyard is off limits.
"I worry about the safety she, her friends used to play hop scotch back here in the summer. Until this is fixed, that is completely out of the question," Antognoli said.
To fix the erosion issues the Department of Environmental Protection says it has to complete a flood control project.
$12 million has already been set aside for it, but DEP says it still has to design and map out the project.
Young worries that is might take a tragic accident in his yard to get the ball rolling at the state level.
"If, and I'm saying if - I hope it never happens. If somebody falls in there, that will be enough," Young said.
A spokesperson from DEP says they're aware of the issue, but at this point there is nothing they can do because the design still needs to be made for the flood control project.
As for the steel plates that fell through- DEP says that's an issue for the city of Scranton.