Pocono News Section

Is City Neglecting Renovated Coal Street Park?

Is City Neglecting Renovated Coal Street Park? - Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 04:16AM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Wednesday May 26 2010
? 0/ 5 rating WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- Many parents in Wilkes-Barre say they're disgusted with the upkeep, or lack thereof, of the newly refurbished Coal Street Park. So, they called the I-Team to look into the situation. And the city wasted no time in cleaning things up.

On Tuesday Eyewitness News stopped at Coal Street Park in Wilkes-Barre. High grass, waist-high in some spots, just about everywhere you looked.

David and Shawna Brink pushed their daughter on the playground swing. David says he loves Coal Street, but in recent weeks its been in bad shape. "Generally its a mess. They don't spend any time taking care of it. It looks like a little effort, a little bit of time, they could have big rocks cleaned up and the grass cut," he said.

"This part of it is clean but right outside the fence there is trash, high grass then more trash to clean-up," says Shawna.

Eyewitness News called City Hall Tuesday to find out what was going on. Within hours DPW workers were cutting the grass. They were back again Wednesday.

Mike Lindbuchler brought his daughter Makayla Wednesday. He left on Tuesday after seeing the high grass. "The grass was taller than she is. Shes 3 years-old. It really was high. And today I was shocked one day could make such a difference. It looks really good today," he said.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton says the problem involves the lack of summer workers. His Public Works employees are stretched to the limit and summer employees like college and high school students are not yet back on the job.

He also points out that the renovations on Coal Street Park are not yet complete. He says its still a construction site and a work in progress. Wilkes-Barre spent millions on renovating Coal Street Park. The mayor insists it will not be neglected.