The start of major improvements and upgrades at Young’s Woods Park in the City of Williamsport’s East End was announced Friday, with emphasis on amenities that will be an all-inclusive recreation space inviting everyone in the neighborhood and beyond.

What’s being called the Young’s Woods Park Improvement Project, a comprehensive revitalization of the 3-acre neighborhood park in the East End with special emphasis on its all-inclusive amenities, has begun with efforts to provide a more usable and modern park, established as a public recreation area provided by the city in 1987.

The park’s facilities will be improved in terms of safety, accessibility, and community enjoyment for people of all abilities, according to guests gathered for the announcement.

The amenities will include the construction of an inclusive playground, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pavilion and pathways, two fenced pickleball courts, lighting, landscaping and a new parking lot with accessibility connections, according to Melanie Shutt, grant administrator with the City of Williamsport.

The project cost is $806,580, which is supported by a $403,290 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), an $80,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), and a $323,290 request to the AllOne Foundation, she said.

“It was an exciting opportunity for us,” said AllOne Foundation Chief Advancement Officer Jesse Ergott. “We came down and took a look at this park, met with Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter, talked to the team, got the whole vision of what they are trying to do and saw it as a great opportunity,” he said.

Joining Ergott at the announcement was AllOne Foundation Chief Executive Officer John Cosgrove.

Cosgrove spoke about the AllOne Foundation as being known for its deep commitment to community impact – partnering with local organizations to strengthen neighborhoods and support projects that enhance quality of life.

With AllOne Foundation’s involvement, this project is almost guaranteed to further the vision of creating inclusive, safe, and vibrant public spaces that foster wellness, connection, and pride in this community.

Slaughter was also in attendance and grateful for all of the support.

“Thank you to the AllOne Foundation, to state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock, state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport; Gov. Josh Shapiro and his team, state Department of Community and Economic Development and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Paul Rooney, who facilitated the connection with AllOne, for allowing a project like this to move forward via the grant funding that we received,” Slaughter said.

“It is really going to have a tremendous impact on this park, and also working in conjunction with Lycoming County Special Olympics – it is going to be an all-inclusive park,” Slaughter said.

The city intends to completely renovate and bring this park back to life, he added. “We did the basketball court a few years ago, but it needs a lot of TLC (tender loving care) — so we look forward to this project, and getting started. This marks the final city park that is going to be undergoing major renovations, he noted.

“We’ve done major renovations at pretty much all of our parks — more to come, though — we have the pump track and skills park at Shaw Park next year,” he said. “We are going to start Newberry Park very soon with upgrades over there — lighting upgrades and pickleball there,” he said. “We have just started with tennis upgrades and pickleball additions at Elm Park,” he said.

“A lot of really great projects – this is the other one that is being added to the list,” Slaughter said.

“We are fortunate,” Slaughter said, before continuing, “and this is a quality of life, when you have these neighborhood parks where folks can walk to and just come out their back doors and have a vibrant park that is able to be utilized – it really is very meaningful.

“We are fortunate to receive these funds and we are happy to make this positive impact in the community.”

“For me as a member of the Children and Youth Committee, and also of the Chair of the Autism Caucus, I couldn’t be more thrilled to have this from AllOne (Foundation) and Charities,” Rep. Flick said.

“It is absolutely incredible and will be put to good use – not just to this area but throughout the entire city,” he said of the connectivity improvements linking all kinds of neighborhoods to the parks such as Young’s Woods.

“We are looking forward to working with them more,” Flick said.