Mayfield contractor bankruptcy stops work on new Lackawanna State Park campground

Jim Lockwood, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 1—BENTON — Work remains halted at Lackawanna State Park on a $1 million campground project because the contractor filed for bankruptcy, a state official said.

What's next for the project and when it might resume remains unclear.

Work began last year on a new Ledges Campground Loop area, which was to be a 20-site, full-service hookup camping spot, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that oversees the park.

The site — about 600 feet long and 300 feet across where it bows out at its widest point — is cleared, with a mostly flat gravel surface with some dirt piles.

DCNR spokesman Wesley Robinson said the project, with a $991,675.81 price tag, stopped about two weeks ago.

"The project stalled because the contractor filed for bankruptcy. I don't have any info on next steps at this time," Robinson said in an email Thursday.

He identified the contractor of the project as EBI.

Bidding information issued in July 2021 for the project lists EBI LLC of Mayfield. Attempts to reach the firm were unsuccessful.

The newspaper first inquired about the stalled project last week. At that time, Robinson said the DCNR could not answer the question until it heard from its attorneys.

Bidding information for the project estimated its cost at over $1 million, for paved campground roads and utilities for new, full-service campsites in the Ledges area of Lackawanna State Park's camping section.

A "full hookup" campsite is one that has nearby restrooms with flush toilets and warm-water showers, as well as sewer, water and electric connections, picnic tables and fire rings, according to the DCNR website's information on recreational vehicle (RV) and tent campsites in state parks.

Lackawanna State Park straddles Benton and North Abington townships.

The Ledges campground site is in Benton Twp., west of Route 407 and in the western side of the park off of Fairground Hill Road and Maple Lane.

Benton Twp. Supervisor Chairman Larry Seymour was not aware of the stopped work and said he had not heard any concerns from the public about it.

A tentative timeline called for completion of the Ledges project in July, but it's unclear if that will now be met, Robinson said.

"We'd like to give people an idea of what is next," Robinson said in a phone interview last week. "We do want to get people updated on what's happening. It is public money."

emailto:Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter.