Pocono News Section

Nay Aug Park Greenhouse to Undergo Revitalization

Nay Aug Park Greenhouse to Undergo Revitalization - Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 6:11PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 @ 06:11pm EDT
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The city of Scranton is getting ready to go green in a big way. A revitalization project at the Nay Aug Park Greenhouse is about to get underway.

City leaders gathered Wednesday afternoon to unveil plans for the greenhouse. They plan to renovate and expand the current facility. When it's finished, officials plan to work with schools and community groups to increase educational activities.

"We have so many elementary schools that are local here and the kids can come and learn. We may have teaching sessions about green things that people have never planted before. They could come up and learn," Valerie Burke with the Nay Aug Park Conservancy said.

The greenhouse is tucked away in one corner of Nay Aug Park. It's right off the entrance to the Davis Trail. When the renovations are complete, it will also be connected to a memorial which is dedicated to fallen soldiers.

"We're gonna build a patio between the greenhouse and the memorial where people can sit and be reflective and then we want to build a deck overlooking Roaring Brook, so this will be the quiet part of the park," Scranton mayor Chris Doherty said.

The renovations at the greenhouse are being paid for by a $100,000 grant from WalMart. The new greenhouse will be named in honor of former mayor James McNulty.

"I don't think I deserve it but I do think the $100,000 investment by WalMart in this park and in this greenhouse allows us to make a committment to beauty," McNulty said.

A committment to beauty, but also a committment to going green and the environment.

"Whatever we grow in the greenhouse, we'd like to plant throughout not only this park, but also the other parks," Mayor Doherty said.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring. The renovations should take several months to complete.