Better Sidewalks, Lighting Coming to Mulberry Street

Here is a bit of of a Newswatch 16 article. Apparently the University of Scranton is fixing up things on and off campus. It's great to see that we are giving back to the community in different ways. Many of us have spent time in the community through service learning and Collegiate Volunteers but that can go unnoticed by many in the community, unfortunately. It's nice to have some positive visibility.

Better Sidewalks, Lighting Coming to Mulberry Street

A new look is also on the way for that well-traveled section of the city of Scranton.

City leaders have been pushing to improve the appearance of a stretch of Mulberry Street where the University of Scranton's campus meets the streets downtown.

It's called the Mulberry Street Improvement Project and the university has committed a lot of money to change the way the neighborhood looks.

There will be new sidewalks, curbs and more period lighting coming in the spring to go with construction of a new $35 million student center at the university this winter.

The university is paying more than a million dollars for a streetscape project from Jefferson Avenue to North Webster Avenue.

City leaders said even though the university is off the tax rolls, this will provide a non-monetary donation to the life of the city and a gateway to downtown Scranton.

"That was part of my plea to the non-profits, maybe if they couldn't give monetarily, an actual donation, that they would try to help the community in some way," said Scranton council president Judy Gatelli.

The project covers six city blocks along Mulberry Street. Some of the sidewalks are still in good condition, but some of the sidewalks are falling apart. That's why the city and the university are taking action.