City of Scranton Council Responses | September 1, 2026

Council President Tom Schuster asked the following question(s):

• I am following up after our caucus on parks in the city. At the meeting it was discussed about individuals being in the parks after dark. Do we have a solid plan to lock/close the parks after hours? I am still receiving calls, photos, etc., from several of the parks after dark. Police calls to Weston Field. Are we going to place gates on all of the entrances to Weston Field? Who is locking the parks each day? Are there any reasons the splash pads would be operating at night? Testing system, adding chemicals, filtration?
  • Thank you for following up with your concerns. The parks dept has purchased and installed boulders to stop cars from driving through Weston Field. The quote for having gates put up would be $50,000+ and would be an obstacle for Code Blue patrons.
    
    The back arm gates that block the track entrances at Weston are locked at the end of the business day, however, by Parks’ staff.
    
    The police department was provided codes and key access to lock the gate at Novembrino Park and Sweeney Beach. Signs are present in the parks stating that they close at dusk. The police department is responsible to secure the gates and enforce this rule. The police department asks that residents call 911 to report after-hours activity in any playground.
    
    The splash pad needs to let off pressure AND filter chemicals through at nighttime.  We can manually turn them off, but this causes pressure build-up within the system and burns out the chemical sensors and valves over time. That is why you will observe the splashpads periodically turn on overnight.

Council Vice President Patrick Flynn asked the following question(s):

• Mr. Flynn asked the city administration may please follow up with the City Engineer and SPD regarding the pending site/traffic studies from early June related to stop sign requests at Depot Street & Amelia Avenue and Ash Street & N Irving Avenue.
  • The city will follow up with the city engineer.

Councilman Sean McAndrew asked the following question(s):

• Councilman McAndrew asked if the city and city engineer may please advise a date when Theodore Street at the Theodore Street Railway Bridge project will be reopened to traffic and also a timeframe from the railway on when the project may be completed?
  • The road was reopened prior to the start of the school year. Crews are completing final details.
• Regarding the city administration July 28th Response to Council under Item 5.b., the city advised that the city has pursued injunctive release in matters related to serious public safety concerns. Mr. McAndrew asked if the city may please show Council that action and provide Council with any incidents over the last ten (10) years for these type situations?
  • The City is attaching numerous filings from recent years for Council’s review along with the Court’s Orders in each matter. 
    
    The Orders help provide context for the threshold finding that the Courts are looking for.  While most of the attached cases involve the City’s pursuit of injunctive relief, included is one matter where the City was the named Defendant as an example of the types of injunction matters we also defend.  
    
    Additionally, also included is an example of a case where the City sought an Administrative Warrant in a matter concerning public health risks.  Again, we hope this is helpful in providing the typical context for these types of filings.  
    
    Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all injunction filings for the past ten years, and is instead a sampling of steps taken by the City regarding problem properties and the types of litigation the City engages in.

City of Scranton Council Responses – September 1, 2026 | PDF

Last modified: September 2, 2026