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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; On Monday, work will begin to replace the lawn areas on Public Square &#8212; the first step in a multi-phase refurbishing project that an official says will help the downtown hub achieve &#8220;its full potential.&#8221;</p><p>The work will necessitate changes to the Farmers Market and the upcoming trick-or-treat event.</p><p>Crews are set to work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m daily for approximately six weeks, but that schedule is dependent on the weather.</p><p>Work will begin on the east side of the fountain on the Square and should last approximately three weeks. While construction is underway, the entire east side of Public Square will be fenced off. No pedestrian traffic will be allowed.</p><p>The construction will interrupt the remaining Farmers Market dates through mid-November. All market stands will be moved to the west side of the Square.</p><p>Meanwhile, Halloween trick-or-treating set for Oct. 31 on the Square has been moved to South Main Street, between Northampton Street and the Square. The block will be closed to traffic so children can safely trick-or-treat at downtown merchants. More details on that upcoming road closure will be released soon.</p><p>In July 2016, the city received a $200,000 Local Share Account grant in addition to $75,000 awarded last year through the program funded by gambling revenue.</p><p>At the time, Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, welcomed the funds and said it will help with the project, which is designed to breathe new life into the well-used public space.</p><p>Newman said Friday the perimeter of the Square and the whole downtown has seen new investment by businesses, restaurants and developers converting largely vacant buildings into apartments and condominiums.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s commonly understood the current state of Public Square is not living up to its full potential,&#8221; Newman said.</p><p>He said the entire Square project will likely take a few years to complete.</p><p>&#8220;This is going to have to be a phased project,&#8221; Newman said Friday. &#8220;This is not about redoing the fountain or replacing the paved paths. The money has not yet been raised to do all that. This will take time and this is the first step. To do things takes time; to do things right takes more time.&#8221;</p><p>Newman said the landscaping will begin now because it is the best time for that work to be done.</p><p>The Diamond City Partnership, the management organization for the downtown, and the city have taken the lead in the project. Newman said they have partnered with architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and the National Resource Network, a component of a federal initiative created for struggling municipalities looking to spur economic development.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, as shown in this file photo, will be getting new landscaping starting Monday. The work is the first step in a multi-phase project meant to breathe new life into the downtown hub. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Downtown.jpg</photo0><caption0>Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, as shown in this file photo, will be getting new landscaping starting Monday. The work is the first step in a multi-phase project meant to breathe new life into the downtown hub. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p><p>and Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Public Square work to begin Monday