SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — The Scranton City Council is currently discussing plans for a full restoration overhaul of The Lookout.
Located on Moosic Street (Rt. 307) in Scranton, The Lookout, established by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938, has been offering residents and tourists alike a scenic view of the city and its surrounding landmarks.
Over the years, The Lookout has seen its fair share of deterioration and vandalism.
Officials report the site is often damaged by persistent littering, graffiti, and having its stone blocks dislodged.
Gerald Smurl, President of the Scranton City Council, says that for the past year, many members of the community have voiced their concerns over the state of The Lookout.
“If you ask anybody that’s been through Scranton or has lived around here, it’s a pretty popular spot. However, it’s getting worse and it’s noticeably worse. So, it’s time for a repair, because if we let it go, it will just basically crumble. We simply don’t want that to happen. This was put in a long time ago, so I’d like to at least get it repaired,” said Smurl.
Recently, City Engineer Thomas Reilly examined the site to gather an estimate.
Based on the assessment, the total cost would be a little over $300,000.
This would cover the cost of repointing the stone wall, repairing the stone sidewalk, adding lighting, repaving the parking lot, upgrading the security cameras, and other related expenses.
The city is currently exploring several alternative funding sources for the project.
Reilly suggests registering the site as a historic landmark to receive funding for preservation.
If the council identifies a cost-effective solution, restoration efforts could begin as early as 2026.