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By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 20, 1996 Page: 3A
PITTSTON — Imagine catching a smallmouth bass or a large catfish in the
waters of the Susquehanna River near the Water Street Bridge.
Now imagine having it for dinner.
Sound appealing? Probably not.
That could change if an ambitious plan to turn the riverbank in Pittston
into a haven for fishing, boating and other recreational activities becomes
reality.
City Councilman Ken Scaz, chairman of the riverfront park committee,
recently unveiled a three-year, projected $3 million plan he predicts will
turn Pittston into a tourist draw.
“This is a dream to me and we’re going to make it happen,” Scaz said.
In a six-page project outline, Scaz described the committee’s vision of the
downtown waterfront.
It will stretch 2,500 feet along the riverbank and run from the Fort
Jenkins Bridge on the northern boundary to Cooper’s Waterfront Restaurant on
the southern boundary.
Proposed attractions along the river include:
A public boat launch and dock facilities for recreational and competitive
boating and fishing.
A small-scale marina to house boats.
A pedestrian walkway from Kennedy Boulevard to link the various areas.
Tim Copeland, a fishery technician for the state Fish and Boat Commission,
said fishing the Susquehanna could be a hit because of an abundance of fish in
the water near Pittston.
“We actually did some extensive surveying (of the river) this summer.
There’s good fishing to be had there: smallmouth bass, muskies, walleye
(pikes), catfish.” And the fish is safe to eat, Copeland said.
Other fish in the river, like carp, shorthead redhorse and other suckers
should not be eaten because they contain cancer causing polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), said Copeland. Suckers are fish that live and feed near the
bottom of a body of water.
Luzerne County Commissioner Tom Makowski called the plan a positive step
for the area’s economic development. He also said it is something the county
will support.
“We approved $64,000 for the first phase of the project at the last
commissioners meeting.” Makowski said the county money was transferred from
three other funds intended for Pittston.
Scaz said the county money will pay for a feasibility study, which will
give the committee a more accurate cost and timeframe.
Scaz also is seeking state and federal funds. Toward that end, he has
contacted U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke; state Sen. Raphael Musto,
D-Pittston; and state Rep. Tom Tigue, D-Hughestown. All three have been
receptive to the plan and pledged their support, Scaz said.
Kanjorski, Musto and Tigue could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Scaz estimated that the feasibility study will be completed within a year.
He hopes construction on the project will begin in late 1997 or early 1998.
An artist’s rendition of a south side view of the proposed Pittston
riverfront development.