News

River common

June 17, 2009

Shuttles planned Friday, Saturday

Move made for potential big crowds, giving elderly and disabled access to events.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Luzerne County officials have no idea how many people will show up for this weekend’s River Common grand opening, so they’re setting up a transportation plan to shuttle the public from several downtown Wilkes-Barre parking areas on Friday and Saturday.

A county transportation authority bus and possibly two county vans will provide free transportation. The shuttle locations will be announced today, said county Flood Protection Authority Director Jim Brozena.

Brozena said the plan is particularly important to allow the elderly and disabled to access all events. The River Common is fully accessible to people with disabilities.

The lot behind the courthouse will eventually be reconfigured to create public parking for the disabled, officials say. Most of the parking spots behind the courthouse will be eliminated, forcing employees to park in a county lot across River Street or the county’s parkade on Water Street.

Brozena also announced that the county has secured three sponsors to fund a temporary stage and other expenses for Friday’s official park dedication ceremony. They are: Mericle Real Estate Services, the Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Martz Trailways.

“We’re obviously thankful for them to help us make the dedication a first-class event. Without their assistance, we obviously would not be able to do the kind of things that are going to happen this weekend,” Brozena said.

The River Common lights and fountain will be turned on tonight to test them for an extended period, but Brozena stressed that the park isn’t open to the public until Friday night.

“Please stay off because it’s still an active construction site,” Brozena said.

After the weekend’s events, county officials plan to close a section of the park between the Market Street Bridge and courthouse because contractors must complete some caulking and other finishing touches that could be damaged by pedestrian traffic, Brozena said. The section may be fenced off until the end of July, though Brozena said it will likely be opened during the July Fourth holiday.

The authority voted Tuesday to pay Integrated Media Services $9,000 to complete a video of the riverfront project. The company’s contract to prepare a video had expired in April, and county officials wanted Friday’s dedication ceremony to be incorporated in the video, he said.

Authority members on Tuesday debated the weather forecast for Friday’s grand opening.

“It will be a nice day rain or shine,” Brozena said.

If you go

River Common events schedule:

• FRIDAY

River Common Stage, accessed through the Northampton Street portal:

4 p.m.: Dedication ceremony

6 p.m.: Wyoming Valley Concert Band

7 p.m.: Bobby Bath

8 p.m.: Don Shappelle

9 p.m.: Close

• SATURDAY

Wyoming Valley Riverfest will take place from 12:30 to 9 p.m. at River Common and Nesbitt Park. There will be games, vendors, exhibits, street performers and many other activities in addition to the following musical performances:

River Common Stage

12:30 p.m.: NonRefundables

2:15 p.m.: Nowhere Slow

4 p.m.: SW!MS

5:45 p.m.: Woody Browns Project

7:30 p.m.: George Wesley

9 p.m.: Close

Nesbitt Park Stage

1 p.m.: Charles Havira

2:30 p.m.: K8

4:15 p.m.: George Wesley

6 p.m.: Don Shappelle

7:30 p.m.: Close

Go to www.rivercommon.org for more information on activities.

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