Honesdale projects: $1.3 million more coming for Main Street; Sycamore Point bid awarded

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent

A bald eagle circled overhead as a crowd, assembled by the Lackawaxen River at the historic Industrial Point in Honesdale on April 26, heard plans for a county riverside park and scenic walkway to be renamed Sycamore Point.

The county initiative Wayne Tomorrow, along with Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP), hosted the noon-hour public walking tour. GHP also brought fresh news of over a million dollars in federal funding awarded for the revitalization of Main Street, with an eye to improving pedestrian safety and aesthetics.

Both projects, separate but complementary and concurrent, are part of an overall vision to rebuild the downtown area, making it safer and more appealing for residents and visitors alike. GHP, with borough council support, is spearheading the revitalization of the commercial district on Main and a pedestrian upgrade for 12th Street leading to the county project.

GHP has been awarded $1,330,000 through the federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program (TASA). This money will be used for upgrading the 1200 block of Main from 12th to 11th, which starts right after the Main Street bridge and is the first of many more blocks earmarked for improvements, heading south on Main.

Greater Honesdale Partnership Executive Director Sandi Levens announced on April 26, 2024, the awarding of a $1.3 million in federal funds to renovate Main Street from 12th to 11th streets, shown here, with public safety and aesthetic improvements.
Greater Honesdale Partnership Executive Director Sandi Levens announced on April 26, 2024, the awarding of a $1.3 million in federal funds to renovate Main Street from 12th to 11th streets, shown here, with public safety and aesthetic improvements.

GHP Executive Director Sandi Levens said this funding will join with the $450,000 GHP received from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, to be used for the same block. She said it is possible there may be enough money left in the TASA award to start work on the 1100 block.

Some of the ways the funding will be used include new streetlamps with an extra, lower lighting arm illuminating the sidewalk with classic lantern-style fixtures; durable stamped concrete walkways, benches, and trash receptacles. Bump-outs are planned at crosswalk corners to allow pedestrians to be better seen. All walkways and amenities that are part of this project will meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

An estimated 60 people from Wayne Tomorrow walked two blocks from the courthouse grounds to Industrial Point where the Lackawaxen River bends under the granite gaze of Irving Cliff, at the end of 12th Street. A long-time hub of manufacturing, today the county owns most of the property where, along with parking, a community riverside park is to be developed.

Picnic tables are planned beneath the leafy shade, and an existing, rugged path to launch row boats, canoes and kayaks, and to go fishing, will be improved, all part of the broader Lackawaxen River Trails initiative to establish or connect land and river trails down the river corridor.

Interpretative panels will tell the history of Industrial Point.

Jayson Wood of Woodland Design Associates points out features of the Sycamore Point project under development to a group from Wayne Tomorrow on April 26, 2024. The county commissioners obtained grant funding to create a river-facing public park at the former Industrial Point, at the end of 12th Street where the Lackawaxen River bends.
Jayson Wood of Woodland Design Associates points out features of the Sycamore Point project under development to a group from Wayne Tomorrow on April 26, 2024. The county commissioners obtained grant funding to create a river-facing public park at the former Industrial Point, at the end of 12th Street where the Lackawaxen River bends.

Wayne Tomorrow was fashioned by the county commissioners with community support in 2013. Community and business representatives make up task forces to collectively plan and guide a vision for improved quality of life and economics in Wayne County on many fronts.

Woodland Design Associates, Honesdale, has done the design work for the county Sycamore Point project and the GHP and Honesdale Borough revitalization project.

Jayson Wood of Woodland Design showed the group renderings of the Sycamore Point project, which also includes a pathway down the embankment for a riverside walkway, extending to the boat access at the river bend. A gradually sloping path to reach this walkway will be handicapped-accessible and begins between Church and Court streets. The eight-foot-wide walkway will be made of concrete. As funds allow, they also hope to install a staircase from where 12th Street ends at Sycamore Point, to join the walkway.

At the county commissioners' meeting on May 2, the low construction bid of three was approved for the building of Sycamore Point. The firm selected, Stafursky Paving of Archbald, submitted a bid of $517,900. Wood stated that this covers a pre-cast boat launch, an upgraded river access drive, concrete riverside walkway, staircase, picnic area with tables, ADA-compliant parking area, a staircase, interpretative signs, benches, trash receptacles, tree plantings and a composting restroom facility.

Wood said the project is expected to break ground this spring and hopefully be finished in fall 2024.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Sycamore Point, Main Street projects progressing in Honesdale

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