Hawley mulls plans for electric lift to improve bandstand accessibility

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·2 min read
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This is a conceptual view of the proposed proposed electric-operated lift planned for the 1932 Hawley Ellingsen Bandstand in Bingham Park. ARC of Wayne County PA plans to pay for it out of donations; the lift will allow better accessibility to the bandstand for people with mobility challenges.
This is a conceptual view of the proposed proposed electric-operated lift planned for the 1932 Hawley Ellingsen Bandstand in Bingham Park. ARC of Wayne County PA plans to pay for it out of donations; the lift will allow better accessibility to the bandstand for people with mobility challenges.

Plans were presented to Hawley Parks & Recreation Commission Jan. 31 to install an electric lift at the bandstand to allow people with disabilities easier access to the venerated community landmark.

"I think there would be more mischief going on in the park, so we decided on a lift." said Alan Cooper, a board member with ARC of Wayne County, noting a lift would probably be cheaper. ARC also still plans to pay for the project, without expenses to Hawley Borough, and Parks & Rec approved the proposal at a meeting last year.

ARC operates Dyberry Day Camp, a summer program north of Honesdale for children and young people with disabilities. They held their summer picnic at the bandstand in Bingham Park in July for the first time, which is when they became aware that better accessibility would be desirable, so that someone in a wheelchair could enter the bandstand that is presently accessible only by steps.

They used the bandstand for dancing, where they had a DJ playing music.

Local life:Wayne County's Dyberry Day Camp has been serving kids with special needs for 50 years

From September:Hawley Parks and Rec mulls accessibility issues, solutions at Bingham Park bandstand

As envisioned, the lift would be located alongside the bandstand stairs on the right as one faces the entrance. It would be necessary to make a cut into the octagonal, wooden railing. Parks & Rec member/councilor Michael Dougherty said there had been discussion of possibly making a gate for the opening that would match the present railing.

Cooper suggested that the borough would keep the key to operate the lift. Someone representing a party or group making use of the bandstand would pick up the key from the borough. A ramp was also considered, but after having an engineer take a look at it, it was determined it was not feasible both architecturally or visually.

An architectural plan was drawn up to show the concept. Three estimates were received to buy the lift. ARC is hoping to have volunteer labor to work on it.

Cooper, who also is the coach for the Wallenpaupack Challenger League, said he he has two events reserved for the bandstand in June 2023, one for the league and the other for the ARC summer picnic. He said their hope is to be able to have the lift operating by that time.

Parks & Rec accepted the drawings to forward them to borough council and have their solicitor and zoning officer review them.

For more about ARC of Wayne County PA, visit thearcwaynecountypa.org.

This is an architecht's conceptual drawing of the proposed electric-operated lift to be installed on the 1932 Hawley Ellingsen Bandstand in Bingham Park. ARC of Wayne County plans to pay for it out of donations; the lift will allow better accessibility to the bandstand for people with mobility challenges.
This is an architecht's conceptual drawing of the proposed electric-operated lift to be installed on the 1932 Hawley Ellingsen Bandstand in Bingham Park. ARC of Wayne County plans to pay for it out of donations; the lift will allow better accessibility to the bandstand for people with mobility challenges.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Hawley bandstand lift to boost accessiblity for any with disabilities