Regarding the current interest in reopening Glen Onoko, of course there are problems, but nothing unsolvable. It got me thinking about Nay Aug Park up in Scranton.

Thirty or forty years ago there were accidents in the Nay Aug Gorge and waterfall. People, mostly adventurous young ones, were getting injured and killed swimming in the Gorge and falls. There was talk at the time of filling in the Gorge with boulders. Not the best idea for various reasons.

Instead, Scranton invested in the park. Federal and state grants helped fund the improvements, and today it is a gem of a park. Same thing could happen with Glen Onoko. The park needs investment, not just money, but personnel. When it was at its peak, Victorian ladies (and gentlemen), wearing their Victorian finery, ascended the trail alongside the waterfalls using the well maintained trails and steps. Lots of steps. At the top was a pavilion, and when they descended the mountain, a different trail to the east of the falls took them to the picnic terraces and dance gazebo where a band played.

The old Lehigh Valley Railroad developed the park, turning “Moore’s Ravine” into Glen Onoko Park. They built a splendid depot with an attached restaurant, which greeted visitors at the base of the trails. No roads took visitors to the park, there were no parking lots (or cars).

Everyone arrived by railroad and this solution should be part of any plan for the Glen, eliminating traffic concerns. Bringing back any of this would cost money, but it appears our Governor and local representatives are on board with this idea.

There are still safety issues with the Nay Aug Gorge, some people insist on doing stupid things. Safety issues will continue with Glen Onoko Park, just as with Mauch Chunk Lake, river rafting, back yard swimming pools and crossing the street without looking both ways. Life will always be full of dangers.

Jack Sterling

Jim Thorpe