HONESDALE, PA — From the accessibility of Wayne Pike Trails and Waterways’ project, to the potential safety of the 12th Street project, to the massive modifications of the Honesdale Revitalization Plan, the borough is making ready for a lot of change.

The status of these projects was one of the main talking points at the Monday, August 2 Honesdale Borough Council meeting.

Project updates

The first to speak in front of the borough councilors was Molly Rodgers of the Wayne Pike Trails and Waterways Alliance.

Utilizing the grant funds that the county is applying for, the goal of the project is to create a walking trail that runs from the site of the Stourbrige Project, through the trestle tunnel, eventually going to the three small borough parks.

In theory, one could hike all the way from the Stourbridge complex to Irving Cliff once the project is fully realized.

One of the project’s major impacts to the borough will be that each of the three parks would get a small asphalt walkway to make them ADA compliant. Others would be a proposed crosswalk by the YMCA, and the addition of railings by the river’s edge.

Borough officials brought up potential maintenance issues that these railings would create. If the river’s edge were sealed off, it would be difficult to landscape and maintain.

“We would sit down with the borough to work whatever specific details, whether there are gates or ways to open the railing or whatever it might be,” said Rodgers.

Other project updates included the receipt of $311,000 for the sidewalks and bike lanes on 12th Street by the Greater Honesdale Partnership. An additional $94,000 was requested to build a community pavilion by the site. $50,000 was also awarded to the GHP through a façade grant, designed for exterior building improvements.

Road safety

A letter sent from Kyle and Kate Parsons was read aloud by council president Michael Augello.

“We are writing in regard to a persistent and increasingly dangerous situation in our neighborhood…” read the letter.

The Parsons aired their concerns with dangerous driving in their neighborhood. The speed limit when entering the borough is 30 miles per hour; they stated that a lot of vehicles travel at least double that speed. With the abundance of joggers, small children, dogs and school bus stops in the area, the Parsons feared for their safety and that of the public.

“It seems only a matter of time before one of these larger trucks ends up in someone’s yard or worse. We think the best way to keep the neighborhood safe would be occasional traffic enforcement in the area,” the letter stated.

Other proposed solutions were speed bumps along Ridge Street, Forest Street and Crestmont Drive.

The information was forwarded to the police chief for review

Going swimmingly

The Honesdale area pool has been open for a few weeks now and the public has been taking full advantage. The borough council members recognized this hard-won success.

“I drive past the pool almost every day, with the addition of the tents and the other stuff, that looks so nice… It looks like a kid’s park, it looks the way it should. I’m thoroughly impressed by the work everybody did and the plans that were made and carried out,” said Augello.  

Counselor James Jennings noted that the opening wasn’t just the borough council’s handiwork. He went on to thank the Wayne County Department of Public Works, the staff and the Honesdale Lions Club for their efforts. He noted that the large white tent that currently sits behind the pool will be the future site of a pavilion.

“We’re working really hard to make sure that the pool is a continued resource for the community,” he said.

Other business

In other business, the council awarded a $12,800 stormwater study to JHA. Bids ranged from Entech Engineering for $124,000, to Barry Isett & Associates for $46,000, Labella Associates for $26,775 and JHA Companies for $12,800. Additionally, citing a need for hiring additional police officers, councilor Bob Jennings made a motion to change the pay range for part-time police officers from $15 to $25 an hour.

The councillors received a notice from Pitney Bowes that there will be a USPS postage increase on August 29.