Wilkes gets $2.5 million for accessibility at Darte Center
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Oct. 28—WILKES-BARRE — The Dorothy Dickson Darte Center will get major upgrades in accessibility courtesy of a grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). The $2.5 million in state money is the second largest RACP grant in the school's history, according to a media release.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced the grant Wednesday, and Wilkes issued the media release with additional information Thursday. The money will be used to make the 478-seat theater more compliant with the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA)
According to the media release, the $2.5 million "will specifically support the accessibility of the theater through newly installed ramps, an enhanced entrance, ADA seating and parking as well as improved lobby space and a new interior elevator."
As big as the project is, it's only the first phase "of what is envisioned as a multi-phase project to enhance the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center," the media release said, though it gave no details on other work being considered.
"This funding will have a long-term positive impact on Wilkes University and the surrounding community and will better reflect our commitment to modern and inclusive facilities," University President Greg Cant said in the release. "This results in improved connectivity and accessibility that ultimately enhance the visitor experience."
Cant thanked a list of people for facilitating acquisition of the grant, including Gov. Tom Wolf, State Senators Marty Flynn (D-Scranton), John Yudichak (I-Swoyersville) and Lisa Baker (R-Lehman Township), State Representatives Aaron Kaufer (R-Kingston) and Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Wilkes-Barre), and Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown.
The timeline for completion of the work is not finished, but should be finalized sometime during the current academic year.
RACP is intended to support "the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects. It pays for larger-scale projects by having a minimum project cost of $1 million, and it requires the project owner match funding equal to or greater than the grant amount. Because of the large matching requirement, and the fact that the money often goes to private entities like Wilkes, it is sometimes touted as an example of "private/public partnerships" able to extend the impact of state tax dollars and private investments.
Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish
