More events to be planned for park

Though the new River Common park opens Friday, there won’t be a full schedule of concerts and events until next year, Luzerne County officials say.

Scheduling major events would be difficult this late in the summer season, and county officials still have to set up a plan to program and fund events, said county Flood Protection Authority Director Jim Brozena.

Officials are in the process of creating a nonprofit corporation to collect tax-deductible donations, Brozena said.

County commissioners will then appoint a board to oversee this corporation. Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said commissioners haven’t yet solicited applications from people interested in serving.

Volunteer park advocate Frank Pasquini said other revenue could come from numerous naming rights to River Common amenities, such as the amphitheater, river landing, portals and walkways.

Buy-a-bench memorials and adopt-a-garden programs are also in the plans, Brozena said.

County officials plan to model their funding plan on the one used in Hartford, Conn., which has a “Friends of the River” organization that finances free events at the city’s riverfront park through sponsorships, annual donations and even estate endowments.

Park programs and oversight are handled by the nonprofit River Recapture group, which is governed by a roughly 50-member board.

Brozena said he and other county officials also wanted to hold off on major events until contractors finish their work. He also wants to observe people using the park to identify any concerns or special needs.

“We need to understand how the facility is going to operate. You don’t put 20,000 people down there and just see what happens,” Brozena said.

The oversight entity must also create park rules, develop a security plan, set up vendor licensing procedures and solicit volunteers, he said.

“It will be a very quiet first season, but that allows us time to hit the ground running with a full program next year,” he said. “We’re looking and turning over every stone to make this park as self-sufficient as possible.”