Diamond City Partnership, City of Wilkes-Barre receive state award

Jul. 20—WILKES-BARRE — The City of Wilkes-Barre and the Diamond City Partnership (DCP) recently received a "Townie Award" for Public Space improvements for the new Public Square performance area.

The award was made during the Pennsylvania Downtown Center's annual statewide Townie Awards gala, held as part of the annual Pennsylvania Downtown Conference.

The Townie Awards are designed to recognize the commonwealth's core communities and individuals for creating and implementing projects, programs and events that exemplify the goals of PDC's community revitalization mission. According to PDC, "this project was truly transformative, and has given Wilkes-Barre an amazing outdoor venue."

On Friday, Mayor George C. Brown and DCP Executive Director Larry Newman gathered at the Public Square performance area to recognize those who helped to make this award-winning project possible.

For years, people talked about the need for a replacement for the bandshell trailer that previously accommodated concerts on Public Square. Two different Leadership Northeast volunteer project groups — in 2009 and 2013 — worked on the issue and fund-raised as they evaluated alternatives.

However, they ultimately realized that the best solution would be a permanent structure designed specifically for Public Square — a complex and expensive long-term project — and they turned the funds over to DCP to move the project forward.

To get the best result, DCP approached Wilkes-Barre City Mayor George Brown, offering to use the Leadership Northeast funds to pay the design fees for a new stage structure. In return for DCP covering the cost of design and engineering, the Mayor and City Council agreed to finance the structure's construction.

The Public Square Performance Area was designed by architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson of Wilkes-Barre with GPI Engineering of Moosic, and it was constructed by contractor Panzitta Enterprises of Wilkes-Barre.

The very prominent and complex site includes a large service vault under the stage. By cantilevering the stage roof from the existing steel truss backdrop, the design avoided disrupting the underground vault. The architects also took pains to create a structure that wouldn't block sightlines across the park.

The result is a steel and wood structure, featuring an asymmetrical hemlock-roofed canopy inspired by the now-restored backdrop — an elegant addition to Downtown's signature public space that has become a billboard for the city.

Since its opening, Public Square's new stage has accommodated everything from high school orchestras to polka bands to headline concerts by the Spin Doctors and the Guess Who — which together attracted more than 9,000 concertgoers to the Square. On Friday, Aug. 16, the stage will host a free concert by Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.

"The Public Square Performance Area, located at the heart of the city, is sure to be the site where many memories will be made — whether it be a child attending their first concert, a first date, or a memorable night out with friends and family," Mayor Brown said. "The development of the performance area on Public Square has been sought after by our community for years. I am proud to see it come to fruition during my administration and am thankful to the partnerships that made it possible."

DCP's Newman added, "We are thrilled that the Public Square performance area has received this statewide award. This project proves that 'good things take time.' It also proves the value of teamwork, and I am incredibly grateful to the Mayor, City Council, Leadership Northeast, and our design partners. It's wonderful to see the finished product in use and enhancing the heart of Downtown Wilkes-Barre, and just as gratifying to have the work recognized with this Townie Award."