Scranton seeks grant for Davis Trail upgrades at Nay Aug Park
Nov. 2—SCRANTON — The city seeks a state grant to improve the popular Davis Trail at Nay Aug Park.
City council introduced legislation Tuesday retroactively approving a grant application for $173,967.19 in state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant funding for the project, which would create a more resilient trail surface, address erosion and include stormwater infrastructure improvements, among other elements. Scranton would use city funds as the 50% grant match, for a total project cost of $347,934.38.
"The basic scope of work is to create a more accessible, more maintainable and more resilient surface for the Davis Trail that will increase connectivity, safety and accessibility between the Greenhouse Gateway, the Nay Aug Gorge Overlook, the Hanlon's Grove Gateway and the Pedestrian Bridge," a narrative submitted with the legislation reads.
"Additional stormwater infrastructure improvements, stamped asphalt areas, signage and invasive knotweed removal will help unify the trail and create a safer, more aesthetic and enjoyable experience rather than a disjointed assemblage of trails with varying surfaces," it continues.
The narrative notes the improvements will lessen erosion of the trail and mitigate sediment flow into Roaring Brook.
"What we want to do is, to the best that we can, rehabilitate the trail, especially in spots where it's become dangerous because of erosion," city Office of Economic and Community Development Director Eileen Cipriani said. "So if we could use some best practices in stormwater management, then we could keep the sediment from rolling into the water and thereby also (keep) it from eroding the trail."
Barb O'Malley, treasurer of the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority that primarily oversees Nay Aug Park, endorsed the proposed trail improvements.
"I think it's a really important effort because the trail is well used and it has attracted a lot of people to the area, but also it's taken a lot of use and the knotweed is really encroaching upon the trail," she said. "It's creating a safety issue, and there are runoff issues there, so I think that this is the kind of project that needs an investment of significant money to be able to do it correctly and to be able to provide recreational activities for people going forward for many years."
If the city secures the funding, Cipriani said the trail project would ideally begin summer or early fall 2023.
Officials, meanwhile, have had to regroup on a separate project to replace decking on a pair of scenic overlooks on the Davis Trail, Cipriani said. That project remains pending.
Council voted 4-0 to introduce the legislation approving the DCNR grant application. Councilman Bill King was absent.
City Hall will be closed Tuesday, which is Election Day. Council will next meet Nov. 10, with a public budget caucus planned for 5:30 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.
Contact the writer: jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141; @jhorvathTT on Twitter.
