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Polish Room committee serves Polish lunch at Wilkes University

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A second ice rink at the Toyota SportsPlex is among the projects receiving more than $600,000 in state grants, area lawmakers said.</p><p>The Department of Community and Economic Development awarded the Coal Street Redevelopment Authority $215,000 for the new rink and other improvements at the facility.</p><p>The funds, approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, come from Act 13 of 2012, the impact fee collected from natural gas drilling in the state. The Act established the Marcellus Legacy Fund distributed by the CFA for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects.</p><p>In a press release issued Monday by state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, the Coal Street award will assist with a planned expansion that includes a new single-story addition to house the rink, bleachers, team rooms, public restrooms, a referee&#8217;s room, a women&#8217;s changing room and additional parking.</p><p>The Toyota SportsPlex is the practice facility for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team and hosts hockey leagues, figure skating, curling and public skating.</p><p>&#8220;These successful programs have created a shortage of ice time; consequently, in order to accommodate these demands, another ice rink is needed,&#8221; Pashinski said.</p><p>Pashinski said he and other state representatives worked with state Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township on the funding for the projects.</p><p>&#8220;The significant funding approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority invests in the people of Luzerne County by expanding access to the many regional recreational amenities of northeastern Pennsylvania,&#8221; Yudichak said in a press release.</p><p>The other recipients are:</p><p>&#8226; Hazleton, $115,000 for Phase II development of the new Center City Park and $102,135 for improvements to Altmiller Park.</p><p>&#8226; Fairview Township,$43,592 to install a playground at Memorial Park.</p><p>&#8226; West Pittston, $56,661 to construct the Baltimore Avenue Park.</p><p>&#8226; Jenkins Township, $65,709 for improvements to facilities in Spadi Park.</p><p>&#8226; Larksville Borough, $21,250 for the completion of a comprehensive recreational plan.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">With the help of state funds, a second ice rink will be added to the Toyota SportsPlex, home to high school hockey teams, figure skating, curling and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who practice at the facility on Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_TTL011216Hockey1.jpg</photo0><caption0>With the help of state funds, a second ice rink will be added to the Toyota SportsPlex, home to high school hockey teams, figure skating, curling and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who practice at the facility on Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag file photo | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Times Leader staff</p></bylineMeta></div>

New ice rink at Toyota Sportsplex among area projects awarded state funds