WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — From the design phase to reality, plans for an action park in Wilkes-Barre are coming to life.
"We call it an action park because it is not just for skateboarding; it's for BMX bikes, and scooters, and skateboards, which is very popular in the city of Wilkes-Barre. You see it all over the place where these people are out having a good time," said Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown.
Crews from American Ramp Company began work at the site in Hollenback Park this week. The 10,000-square-foot concrete park will have plenty of ramps, rails, and other features.
"People who skateboard, BMX enthusiasts, scooter people helped us to design this park. It was a committee that we put together, and we met several times, and they gave us their preferences for this park," Mayor Brown said.
The total cost for the project is $450,000, paid for with money from the federal government's American Rescue Plan.
City leaders hope it draws people to Wilkes-Barre from around the region.
"Let's spend the day there, let's have something to eat there, maybe stay overnight and come back the next day under tourism and bringing people in under tourism is one of the reasons why we are doing this, but mainly I want to provide people a safe environment."
The city anticipates the new park to be ready for action sometime this summer.
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