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Dalton receives park grants

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

The Dalton Borough Council recently learned good news that will help in their process to improve two parks in the borough. At the council’s May 14 meeting, Secretary Paula Vail announced that the borough’s request for a $7,000 grant from Lackawanna County’s Lackawanna Environmental Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (LECOR) program. The grant, said council, will help with a matching portion required for a grant the borough seeks from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The borough plans to combine the LECOR grant money with $12,000 in the borough budget that has been earmarked for recreation. “When it’s all said and done, we should have about $58,000 for the park project,” said Vail. The project will include improvements to Dalton Streamside Park’s field, as well as what council has said are much-needed improvements to Platt Park in the center of town. Vail said she has also received correspondence from Lackawanna County expressing the county’s support for the DCNR grant.

Council also passed a resolution that will allow Vail, Dalton Mayor Mary Jane Peters and Len Peters, council president, to electronically file for grants for the borough’s liquid fuels funds. Also, in response to a concern from a resident on Orchard Street, Mayor Peters agreed to speak with Dalton Police Chief Christopher Tolson about the possibility of installing several stop signs along the street in order to control speeding.

Council Vice-President Bill Salva on Thursday also said that the borough Department of Public Works is looking into installing five catch basins along Lake Street to help solve ongoing storm water management issues. Salva estimated that the project would cost a total of between $10,000 and $12,000, and suggested that this project be completed prior to the borough’s planned paving project, which will include Lake, Second and Third streets and First Street up to Lake Street. In order to complete the catch basin project, Salva said the borough will need to seek easements from residents along Lake Street in the areas of the planned catch basins to allow DPW to place pipes underneath the residents’ driveways. Salva said that DPW will then reseal and repair driveways back to their original condition at no cost to the residents.

Dalton Borough Council will next meet on June 11 at 7 p.m.