SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — For generations of Scranton families, the Nay Aug Park pool has been a summertime staple. But plans to expand the newly renovated facility have hit a setback after the city was denied a state grant.
The City of Scranton recently completed the first phase of a major renovation project at the pool, which included a new zero-entry pool and waterslide. While many residents welcomed the long-awaited improvements, others say the project still isn’t complete.
“I’ve grown up here all my life,” said Scranton resident Evan Spindler. “I remember the old pool. Nothing compares to it. The old pool had two slides. It was all big.”
Spindler said he appreciates the upgrades but personally wishes there were a few different aspects.
“I like a deep pool,” he said. “I like somewhere I can go down, swim into, jump, take a dive. If you dive into that pool, I think you’d get seriously injured honestly.”
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The next phase of renovations was expected to add a deep lap pool and a new splash pad. However, those plans are now on hold after Scranton was not selected to receive a state grant worth more than $2 million that would have helped fund the project.
In a statement to 28/22 News, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti said the city has secured significant funding for other improvement projects.
“We have received over $160 million in grants to improve Scranton. By stacking federal, state, and local funds, we have invested more than $26 million into our parks systems alone.”
City officials say they are exploring other funding opportunities to move Phase Two forward. For now, however, there is no timeline for when construction on the remaining improvements could begin.
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