Scranton eyes property near redeveloped former Scranton Lace complex as city's second dog park

Yahoo

12-02-2025

SCRANTON — The city plans to create a dog park near the new Lace Village community of the redeveloped former Scranton Lace Factory complex.
UGI Utilities would donate to the city a mostly vacant lot at Albright Avenue and Marion Street, according to a resolution from the administration of Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti to Scranton City Council.
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
The city has agreed to purchase the property for $1, according to the resolution on council's agenda for a possible vote on introduction at council's meeting Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The resolution says: 'The city desires to purchase land on the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street from UGI for one ($1.00) dollar for purposes of exercising site control so the city can then be eligible to receive grant funds for purposes of implementing a dog park at this site.'
A resolution takes two separate votes by council to adopt. If introduced by council, a resolution comes back before council at a future meeting, usually the next week, for a vote on adoption.
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
The city's website lists 38 parks, about eight of which are affiliated with youth athletic leagues. Connell Park in South Scranton has a dog park.
The dimension of the UGI property is about 200 feet along Albright Avenue and 100 feet along Marion Street.
The lot has two small, vacant brick buildings and a lawn area and large tree between them, and a large lawn area behind the brick buildings.
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
An old spear-tipped wrought-iron fence cordons off the lot along Albright Avenue and Marion Street.
The resolution does not mention whether a plan for a dog park would preserve or restore the two brick buildings and fence. The roof of one of the brick buildings appears to be damaged in spots and some parts of the fence also are damaged and bent.
The UGI lot abuts part of the former Scranton Lace factory, which is undergoing a rebirth as Lace Village, a mixed-use residential and business development.
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
For more than a century until closing in 2002, the behemoth manufacturing facility on 11 acres was home to the Scranton Lace Company, once North America's largest manufacturer of Nottingham lace. At its peak, the sprawling complex employed 1,400 workers who enjoyed on-site amenities like a gym, barbershop, theater, bowling lanes and infirmary.
It began in 1891 as the Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Company, a mammoth structure covering 6 acres, according to 'Time and Lace, A History Of The Scranton Lace Company,' a 2022 book by Roman Golebiowski and Darlene Miller-Lanning of the Hope Horn Gallery of the University of Scranton.
*
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
*
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Show Caption
1 of 5
A lot owned by UGI Utilities at the corner of Albright Avenue and Marion Street in Scranton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Scranton plans to buy the property from UGI for $1 and convert the site into a dog park. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
Expand