SCRANTON, Pa. — A longtime environmental scientist will helm Lackawanna County's parks and recreation department, the county announced Monday.
Majority Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Matt McGloin appointed Paul W. Bechtel, of Scott Twp., to the position. Bechtel has been an environmental scientist since 2007 for the Scranton-based landscape designer Thomas J. McLane and Associates.
Bechtel said he plans to maintain and renovate the county's existing recreation facilities. He also hopes to create new trails and add environmental education opportunities to area parks.
"Health and wellness are my main goals," Bechtel said.
Bechtel, 45, replaces former parks and recreation director Art Moran. The county interviewed about eight candidates, Commissioner Chris Chermak said.
"I wish him the best, he's got some big shoes to fill," Chermak said.
According to his resume, Bechtel's experience includes site planning, ecological restoration, wetland monitoring, proposal writing and regulatory agency coordination.
Thomas J. McLane and Associates was listed as a consultant on Scranton's 2021 master plan for the city's parks system. The report, among other things, recommended the city fix safety and accessibility issues and that it step-up park programming.
Gaughan, who served as city council president at the time, said Bechtel played an "instrumental role" developing that plan and it "showcased his ability to envision and execute transformative parks projects."
"Paul's education and experience align seamlessly with our vision for the Lackawanna County park system, ensuring a harmonious blend of conservation, community engagement, and sustainable development," Gaughan said in a statement.
McGloin said Bechtel's background made him "the most qualified" for the position.
"We look forward to taking our Parks Department to the next level," McGloin said in a statement.
Bechtel will start April 1 to allow him time to finish up work in the private sector, county spokesman Pat McKenna said. Bechtel will receive a salary of $64,020.
Bechtel earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Scranton in 2000 and a master of science degree in biology/ecology from Fordham University in 2006. In 2007, he received a post-graduate certificate in ecosystem restoration from Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology.
He's served on the board of the Lackawanna River Conservation Association and he continues to organize riparian tree-planting projects throughout the Lackawanna River watershed, the county said.
