WILKES-BARRE — English pop star Petula Clark’s iconic song, “Downtown,” kept playing in my head all week.
It started with Mayor George Brown’s 2026 budget proposal, continued with Diamond City Partnership Executive Director Larry Newman’s address to the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association and topped off with Joell Yarmel’s announcement of the $14 million annual economic impact that the F.M. Kirby Center for the Preforming Arts has had.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the good work of John Maday, President of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association, who continues to epitomize the spirit of Downtown Wilkes-Barre day after day after day.
As Petula sang:
“Things will be great when you’re — Downtown
No finer place for sure — Downtown
Everything’s waiting for you”
Well, almost everything, but there are movie shows in our downtown, there are restaurants in our downtown, you can Boscov in our downtown, you can shop the Farmers Market in our downtown and you can see groups like Chicago and stars like Jerry Seinfeld in our downtown.
When the Kirby Center has a show, the lights are very much brighter in our downtown and you really can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares.
In his 2026 budget proposal, Mayor Brown announced that the residential sewer fee must be doubled to $100 per year — but he also said the city’s real estate tax rate will not go up for the seventh consecutive year.
The mayor said it is crucial to fund the repair of the city’s aging infrastructure, noting the Horton Street and Conyngham Avenue projects cost more than $1.2 million to fix.
Mayor Brown acknowledged some of the accomplishments of the past year:
• The Wilkes-Barre City Police Department hired nine new officers this past year, which puts the department near full complement.
• The Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department replaced 15 firefighter/EMT and paramedic positions.
• The Health Department purchased a medical bus, which was reimbursed through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to be utilized for community health care.
• The Office of Community and Economic Development provided funding for 17 emergency housing rehabilitations, totaling $81,730, and approximately $198,000 was utilized for public services.
• The reconstruction of The Bog Park in Miners Mills cost $1.1 million, including the additions of an all-inclusive playground and six pickle-ball courts.
That’s all positive news.
On Friday, DCP’s Newman said downtown revitalization is a team sport.
“It doesn’t happen without effective partnerships with the Mayor, City Council, and City government, downtown’s property owners, downtown’s businesses and institutions, and our region’s other elected officials,” Newman said.
Before Newman spoke, Yarmel, executive director at the F.M. Kirby Center, welcomed the group and cited a recent economic impact study done by The Institute.
“Despite major disruptions caused by an October 2023 water main break that resulted in significant damage and a year-long repair effort, the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts has emerged stronger than ever — generating more than $14 million in total economic impact during the 2024–2025 fiscal year” Yarmel said.
Yarmel said she recently returned from a conference in Nashville, Tenn., where she said she met with numerous promoters and she came away feeling like the Kirby Center is at the top of booking agents’ lists.
More — lots more — positivity.
Newman said during the past 12 months, the downtown had an average daily population of 15,700.
During the same period just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the downtown had an average daily population of 22,000.
“Newman said, “Most of the folks who are missing are workers.”
Newman said the total number of non-work visits to Downtown is 85% of what the pre-COVID figure.
And today, Newman said downtown’s residential population is actually 13% greater than what it was before the pandemic.
Newman said, “While its role as a place to work is diminished, its role as a place to live, play and learn continues to expand.”
You’ve previously heard me talk about that vision — or what we call the “big goals” for Downtown Wilkes-Barre:
• A downtown that’s clean, safe and beautiful.
• A downtown that’s the region’s “walk-to-everything” neighborhood of choice.
• A downtown that’s the region’s college neighborhood.
• A downtown that’s a regional center of arts, culture, dining and entertainment.
• A downtown whose historic architecture, riverfront and high-quality public environment are the basis of an enhanced visitor experience.
A lot of good, no, a lot of great news for Downtown Wilkes-Barre.
And that really is good news for everybody.