SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) \u2014 A North Scranton park now bears the name of one of the city\u2019s most admired firefighters. City officials, members of the Scranton Fire Department, and the family of the late Anthony \u201cTony\u201d Walsh gathered Friday to officially rename the former North Scranton Mini Park on Wayne Avenue as Tony Walsh Park.<\/p>\n
Mayor Paige G. Cognetti led the ceremony, describing Walsh as a model of dedication and community service. She noted that the park\u2019s location \u2014 just steps from Engine 8 and a short walk from Stirna\u2019s Restaurant, the longtime family business where Walsh worked for decades \u2014 makes the tribute especially meaningful.<\/p>\n
\u201cTony\u2019s life exemplified service,\u201d the mayor said, calling the renaming a fitting way to honor his impact on both the city and its fire department.<\/p>\n
Scranton Fire Chief John Judge also reflected on Walsh\u2019s legacy, recalling his strong presence within the department. Judge remembered Walsh\u2019s \u201cmagnetic personality,\u201d deep passion for firefighting, and his famously classic firefighter mustache. \u201cHis love for the city and the Scranton Fire Department was only overshadowed by his love for his family,\u201d Judge said.<\/p>\n
Known affectionately as \u201cChampagne\u201d 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\u2019s technical rescues and fire suppression operations.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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\u2019s Day Parade was dedicated in part to his memory.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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