SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A North Scranton park now bears the name of one of the city’s most admired firefighters. City officials, members of the Scranton Fire Department, and the family of the late Anthony “Tony” Walsh gathered Friday to officially rename the former North Scranton Mini Park on Wayne Avenue as Tony Walsh Park.

Mayor Paige G. Cognetti led the ceremony, describing Walsh as a model of dedication and community service. She noted that the park’s location — just steps from Engine 8 and a short walk from Stirna’s Restaurant, the longtime family business where Walsh worked for decades — makes the tribute especially meaningful.

“Tony’s life exemplified service,” the mayor said, calling the renaming a fitting way to honor his impact on both the city and its fire department.

Scranton Fire Chief John Judge also reflected on Walsh’s legacy, recalling his strong presence within the department. Judge remembered Walsh’s “magnetic personality,” deep passion for firefighting, and his famously classic firefighter mustache. “His love for the city and the Scranton Fire Department was only overshadowed by his love for his family,” Judge said.

Known affectionately as “Champagne” Tony Walsh, he served 25 years with the Scranton Fire Department, most of it on the C-Shift. He was also one of the founding members of Rescue Company 1, the unit that handles the city’s technical rescues and fire suppression operations.

Beyond his firefighting career, Walsh was a lifelong Scranton resident, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a military policeman in Vietnam, and a fixture at Stirna’s Restaurant on West Market Street, where he worked alongside his wife Sandra and his sisters for more than four decades. The 2024 Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade was dedicated in part to his memory.

The newly named Tony Walsh Park has undergone major improvements in recent years. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the park received more than $197,000 in renovations completed in late 2023, adding a climbable fire engine for children, a rope tower, and outdoor fitness equipment.

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