Waymart's Wayside Park to get new equipment; Woodland Design to oversee phase one

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·2 min read

Waymart Borough Council is planning a major, two-phase upgrade for Wayside Park. Approval was given at the March 12 meeting to hire Jason Wood of Woodland Design Associates, Honesdale, as project manager for phase one.

The firm did the design work, which councilor Jane Varcoe said helped the borough obtain the $90,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, for phase one. This is a 50/50 matching grant; the borough is responsible for another $90,000.

The first phase involves obtaining new playground equipment that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. What they have is mainly for small children; the borough will add equipment for older children too. ADA-compliant sidewalks and parking spaces will be added. The project also includes upgrading electrical service.

This is part of the playground in Wayside Park in Waymart, which is to be upgraded to be more handicapped-accessible, and to include equipment more suitable for older children. Sidewalks will be upgraded to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
This is part of the playground in Wayside Park in Waymart, which is to be upgraded to be more handicapped-accessible, and to include equipment more suitable for older children. Sidewalks will be upgraded to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Varcoe said that phase two involves adding other playground equipment, benches and tables, and possibly a pavilion in the back by the creek. Also discussed but not decided, is adding a pickleball court.

The park includes a veterans memorial and flag with ceremonies hosted by American Legion Post 889 in Waymart. A memorial, initially listing over 1,600 names of area veterans, was unveiled in 2006. The park also is the center for numerous community events. A nonprofit organization, Waymart Area Parties in the Park, plans various concert events, festivals, and children's activities throughout the year in the park and the annual Pride and Patriotism parade in June.

Wayside Park was opened in 1994 on the same site as the former Waymart High School at the corner of Belmont and South Streets. In 1985, the borough had the former Waymart school demolished, because it had badly deteriorated and was deemed a hazard. The school district donated the land. Varcoe, who is in her 51st year serving on borough council, recalled it was a sad day for the group of Waymart school alumni who stood across the street when the school was taken down.

American Legion Post 889, Waymart, conducts ceremonies at Wayside Park at certain times of the year. In 2006, a veterans memorial listing around 1,600 names of area veterans was unveiled by the post. Names of veterans were initially gathered by post members George Waters, John Martzen and Ted Gaardsmoe, and the memorial is updated as more names are identified.

In 1991 the late state Rep. Edward Staback was asked by the Waymart Lions Club for support to create the park and move the 19th century D&H Canal Company gravity railroad depot to the site where the park is now. The historic depot on South Street, which for a long while was used as the borough hall, was restored, and became the Waymart Area Historical Society D&H Gravity Depot Museum in 2007.

Waymart Borough Council meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the borough offices at 128 South St., Waymart.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Waymart's Wayside Park to see major upgrade; Woodland Design picked