Scranton council introduces multiple local-share grant applications for parks, sidewalks, elevators and bike lanes

At a September 2025 Scranton City Council meeting, members introduced eight grant applications to the Commonwealth Financing Authority(Local Share Account) under the PA Racehorse Development and Gaming Act for capital and safety projects across the city. The introductions covered projects from emergency generators for the fire department to bike lanes and sidewalk repairs, and all items were moved into committee and approved for introduction by voice vote. The grant applications collectively seek state local-share funds for individual projects. The council introduced: up to $120,000 for three new generators and two new boilers for the Scranton Fire Department; up to $78,000 for sidewalk repairs at Steamtown Church; up to $52,370 for Weston Park baseball improvements; up to $96,416 for Scranton Cultural Center facility upgrades; up to $42,840 for paving at Providence Pregnancy Center; up to $153,300 for repair of a non-operating elevator; up to $72,900 for a Davis Street pedestrian crossing project (later amended); and up to $105,000 for a bike lane project. Why it matters: the Local Share Account grants are state-administered funds that can cover capital improvements the city says will improve public safety, accessibility and economic activity. Council members framed the items as competitive grant applications requiring council authorization to apply; introduction clears the way for staff to file applications and for committees to review project details. Most significant details and next steps: the council amended the Davis Street pedestrian crossing application during the meeting, increasing the requested amount reported in the summary from $72,900 to $150,000 and expanding the scope in the summary and whereas clauses to include traffic-control safety measures in the areas of Luzerne Street and Greenridge Street. The amendment was approved on the floor and the amended item was introduced into committee. Several other applications were introduced without substantive floor debate and were approved for committee referral by voice votes. Funding and scope highlights: the elevator repair request was tied to a $153,300 grant figure noted elsewhere in public comments, and council members and a public commenter compared that figure to the bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian-safety requests during public comment. The bike-lane application, as introduced, sought up to $105,000 for multi-mile connections in the downtown-to-trail corridor; staff and council will present technical specifications to committees as they prepare formal grant submissions. What council did not decide tonight: introduction allows staff to file grant applications but does not authorize contract awards, change local matching commitments beyond those stated in summary titles, or fund projects from city coffers. Each item will proceed through committee review, and any required local-match commitments, contract awards or project-specific resolutions would return to council for final action. Ending: council members voted to introduce all eight items into their respective committees by voice votes; staff will prepare formal grant applications and supporting documentation for the Commonwealth Financing Authority filings and follow up with committee reviews as required.