Sep. 7—WILKES-BARRE — City Council received a preview at its work session Tuesday of the action park proposed by Mayor George Brown for Hollenback Park.

The reception was positive and likely indicated Council will approve Brown's request to use $450,000 of American Rescue Plan funds for the project aimed at not only giving skateboarders, BMX and scooter riders a custom-designed park, but also generate tourism revenue from competitions.

A contract to hire American Ramp Company of Joplin, Mo. was on the work session agenda that will be carried over to Council's Thursday night public meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

"The idea was to at least get a park together. This was designed by a professional park designer and in concert with our Action Park Committee," Brown said.

Project engineer Mike Amato, of PennEastern Engineers LLC added the park measures 100 feet by 100 feet and is concrete.

"The project schedule is probably a nine-month, with design kicking off upon Council's approval and construction to commence in the spring," Amato said. Future plans include lighting, landscaping, seating and possibly expanding it, he said.

In response to question from Councilman Bill Barrett about fencing around the park, Kevin Czekalski, Committee chairman, said most parks aren't enclosed.

Czekalski, owner of Plains Bike Shop, said the skaters and bikers who use the park won't cause problems. "It's the outside element," he said.

Brown presented Council with two other projects to be funded from what remains of the $37.1 million in ARP money awarded Wilkes-Barre last year to assist with its financial recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. A new, natural gas powered, 150 kilowatt generator for police headquarters from Medico Industries would cost $139,619. Approximately three quarters of the $2,293,913 in renovations at the James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Center would be paid with ARP funds and the remainder by the city from its general fund. The work would be split between the two lowest responsible bidders — Panzitta Enterprises, general contractor, $1,992,000 and Brennan Electric Inc. electrical contractor, $301,913.

Apart from the federal funds, the agenda contained the purchase a skid steer for $78,561 and a bucket truck for $157,075 equipment for the Department of Public Works with state Local Share Account program grants from revenues from the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Plains Township. The LSA grants are administered by Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The city was also asked to submit other LSA grant applications:

—$281,480 for the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority to replace aging equipment and purchase a remote control mower, air compressor, zero-turn mower, slope mower and an electric vehicle to transport employees.

—$250,000 for the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA to renovate underutilized space into multi-purpose rooms for community and childcare center programming.

—$250,000 for the Volunteers of America Pennsylvania to fill a funding gap to rehabilitate a deteriorating building on East Division Street into apartments.

Although it had the largest dollar amount of all the agenda items, the request to approve the refinancing of $17.5 million in notes issued by the the Wilkes-Barre Finance Authority to Allied Services Personal Care, Inc. for projects at two facilities would cost the city nothing. Allied, which purchased the former St. Luke's Villa on East Northampton Street and Little Flower Manor on South Meade Street, was renovating them and taking advantage of tax-free refinancing.

An ordinance to designate Sterling Avenue for residential permit parking will be up for a second and final reading Thursday. The addition of a Stormwater Management ordinance, as mandated by the state, will have it first reading.

Also on the agenda for discussion was the purchase a new point of sale system for the Tax/Code offices at a cost not to exceed $35,000.

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.