WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — All of Williamsport's parks will soon be under video surveillance. Cameras are being installed at parks across the city to help ensure safety.
"If folks are not doing what they should be doing, or what they are supposed to be doing, then we do have a camera system now that works. It is 24/7, 365, and live recording. It will help us keep an eye on the parks and make sure everyone is safe," said Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter.
The cameras are one of the final upgrades being made to some of the city's parks. A few years ago, these parks were pretty much unusable, according to city officials.
'Our parks were just dilapidated. You couldn't use them. We had broken equipment, the courts were uneven," the mayor said.
The city used American Rescue Plan Act money to upgrade Memorial, Shaw, Lose, and other parks. The upgrades at Memorial Park were extensive.
"From the basketball courts, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, and playground equipment, just millions of dollars in amenities and upgrades. We put a new splash pad in, and our pool that is right over here opened this summer," Mayor Slaughter said.
The city hopes the cameras deter people from vandalizing or damaging the new equipment.
"We want to make sure things are maintained and sustained. We know with the day-to-day and year-to-year maintenance that there will be some cost there, but we don't want kids, families, or anyone for that matter, coming in and intentionally damaging or breaking our equipment," the mayor added.
The city says Newberry Park is next in line for major upgrades.