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Oct. 18 Dalton block party celebrates Streetscape project

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

Dalton residents are walking around town more easily after the completion of a Streetscape project this summer. To celebrate, the Dalton Business and Professional Association will host a block party on Sunday, Oct. 18 from noon until 5 p.m.

Mayor Mary Jane Peters said that the block party is the perfect way to thank those who live, shop and work in downtown Dalton for their patience during the project. “The upshot is that now we have these beautiful sidewalks, as well as lights around the park downtown,” said Mayor Peters. The project, which began in July and took several months to complete, was the result of a grant from Penn Dot and cost approximately $230,000, according to council President Len Peters. The project added approximately 550 feet of newly renovated sidewalks and curbing from the 6 and 11 overpass on Main Street to the intersection of Turnpike Road, including sections of Mill Street, and added several turn-of-the-century style lampposts near Platt Park.

The idea for the block party first came into being during a conversation earlier this summer between Dalton Business and Professional Association President Gail Rees and Mayor Peters. “The sidewalk renovation had already been going on for a while, and I said ‘wouldn’t it be neat if we could have some type of block party at the end of all this to celebrate our town and our new sidewalks,’” said Rees. Little did Rees realize that Peters would approach Dalton’s borough council for approval of the event until she saw Peters at another DBPA event. “She turned to me and said ‘The block party was approved,’” Rees said. Plans for the event came together quickly, said Rees, with the help of many DBPA volunteers as well as other organizations in the borough. Finally, after considering several locations, the makeshift committee settled on the borough parking lot located behind the Dalton Fire Hall as the perfect venue for the event. “We wanted it to be in the center of town,” Rees said. “We have events at Streamside Park, but we wanted a more centralized location. We wanted it to be a true block party.”

Many organizations will have booths at the event, which will include refreshments, games, raffles and other activities. The Dalton Fire Company Auxiliary will have Bingo all day in the fire hall, and the Dalton Fire Company will hold an informational open house featuring its brand new fire truck. Also, Dalton Police Department will have a children’s pumpkin painting contest and a drawing for prizes. Other participating organizations and businesses include the Dalton Library, Lackawanna Trail School District’s Parents-Teachers Organization, licensed acupuncturist Lisa Noto, UTA Dalton Karate and Newsie’s Pizza, a new pizzeria located in town.

Although the block party is still several days away, Rees said she hopes that the event is successful enough to become an annual event.