| Nay Aug Park | |
|---|---|
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Operated by | City of Scranton |
| Status | Open all year |
Nay Aug Park is the largest park in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. An amusement park on the site closed in the 1990s, but a small amusement area still operates near the swimming pool complex. The park also houses a small zoo, the Nay Aug Gorge, the Everhart Museum, and two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Contents |
The Nay Aug Gorge was created at the end of the most recent ice age and is a popular (though dangerous and illegal) swimming spot. In 2007 the David Wenzel Tree House opened with views overlooking the gorge and surrounding area. The tree house is designed to be fully handicapped accessible, and is the first of its kind in the area.[1] A footbridge with views of Roaring Brook also opened in 2007.
The zoo at Nay Aug once hosted the famous Tilly the elephant and Joshua the donkey. The zoo closed in 1988, and the newest elephant Toni was shipped to the National Zoo in 1989. The zoo at Nay Aug remained closed until summer 2003, when it reopened as a wildlife rehabilitation center. The current zoo complex is comparatively small and does not house the same number of animals as the original zoo. In an article in Time's Magazine, this zoo in 2008 was the 4th worst animal treated (abuse) zoo in America. In 2009 the Zoo once again closed, due to public outcry over conditions, with the Site being given to Lackawanna College to use as a natural research center.
Two Olympic-size swimming pools can be found at the park. Recently renovated, the pool now offers a two diving boards and two water slides.
The Everhart Museum was founded in 1908 by Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart. In honor of the museum's founder, a bronze statue of Dr. Everhart and Lake Everhart were dedicated on May 20, 1911. Dr. Everhart died five days later. The Everhart is the largest public museum in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is a non-profit institution dedicated to the collection, care and display of a diverse array of artifacts, including natural history, science and fine arts. The museum also contains a library with books pertaining to areas of interest covered by the collection.[2]
Nay Aug Amusement Park was a small amusement park within the park grounds. It was run by Karl and Ralph Strohl, who received the park from their father. The amusements included toy tanks in a circle, caterpillar, bumper cars, helicopters, cars on a track, merry-go-round, boats in a small pond, and a small whip. One of the park's highlights was the small wooden roller coaster, the Comet Coaster (also known as Comet, Jr.).[3] There was a miniature Lackawanna train which went around the roller coaster. The arcade pavilion building was previously a dance hall during the 1930s and 1940s where big bands came to play. From the 1950s until the park's closing, the building housed the bumper cars amusement ride, which was ringed by various arcade machines and amusements like pinball, skee-ball, skill crane and other machines. The pavilion was open on 2-3 sides in the summer months. Directly in front of the pavilion was the Carousel. The park was closed in the 1990s, and its site is now green space. A small amusement area is now located near the swimming pools.