READING, Pa. – During its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night, Reading City Council heard from representatives of Pagoda-Skyline Inc., making a request to construct a pavilion at the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower.

Mike Reinert, president of Pagoda-Skyline, said the organization is a longtime nonprofit dedicated to preserving Mount Penn landmarks.

“We worked on the Pagoda for many years, saved it a couple of times; now our focus is on the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower, also a part of the Skyline family,” Reinert said. “And there’s a lot of events and gatherings that take place at the tower property throughout the year.”

Reinert said among the events which would make use of a pavilion are the Duryea Hill Climb, a car race in August, the annual Skyline chicken barbeque and the annual Easter Sunday dawn service.

Mark Ray, secretary of Pagoda-Skyline, said the 30-foot by 40-foot pavilion would be constructed about 30 feet to the south of the tower.

Ray explained that in 2023 the organization approached the city with the idea but was denied because public works did not want to add the responsibility for maintenance their list of properties.

Ray said there is now a memorandum of understanding with public works that Pagoda Skyline would be responsible for the maintenance.

Reinert said the organization is not asking the city for any funding for the project, as it is working in collaboration with the Blue Mountain Region Sports Car Club of America, the organization which runs the hill climbs on the mountain.

Ray said there is a plan to make the pavilion available to rent, with rates for both city residents and non-residents.

City Council members were enthusiastic about the project and said it will be a great complement to the reopening of the Pagoda in April.

Council Solicitor Michael Gombar said council could vote on the proposed project in two weeks.

Managing Director Jack Gombach said the city is very excited about the project.

“Reading has over 100 acres of public green space within its city limits, so whenever we get the opportunity to enhance it for public use, we’re always happy to explore options to do that,” Gombach said.

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