Nay Aug Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nay Aug Park |
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1940s postcard view
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Operated by | City of Scranton |
| Status | Open all year |
| Designated: | 1989 |
Nay Aug Park is the biggest park in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It's a fun place with lots to see and do!
Long ago, there was a big amusement park here. It closed in the 1990s, but a smaller fun area is still open near the swimming pools. The park is also home to the Nay Aug Gorge, the Everhart Museum, and two huge swimming pools. There used to be a zoo here too.
The name "Nay Aug" comes from a Native American language. It means "noisy brook," which makes sense when you see the water!
Contents
Exploring Nay Aug Park
The Amazing Nay Aug Gorge
The Nay Aug Gorge was formed a very long time ago, at the end of the last ice age. It's a beautiful natural area.
In 2007, the David Wenzel Tree House opened. It gives you amazing views of the gorge and the area around it. This tree house was special because it was built so that everyone, including people using wheelchairs, could visit it easily.
Also in 2007, a footbridge opened. It offers great views of Roaring Brook, a stream that flows through the park. The tree house was closed for a while in 2017 for safety, but the footbridge reopened in May 2019.
The History of the Zoo
Nay Aug Park once had a zoo. Famous animals like Tilly the elephant and Joshua the donkey lived there. The zoo closed in 1988. The last elephant, Toni, moved to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. in 1989.
The zoo reopened in 2003 as the Genesis Wildlife Center. However, it closed again in 2009. Later, a local group called "Street Cats" started using the old zoo area. They help take care of stray cats in Scranton.
Splashing Fun at the Pools
Nay Aug Park has two Olympic-size swimming pools. These pools are very big, just like the ones used in the Olympic Games!
They have been updated and now feature two diving boards. There are also two exciting water slides for you to enjoy. It's a perfect place to cool off on a hot day.
The Everhart Museum
The Everhart Museum was started in 1908 by a doctor named Isaiah Fawkes Everhart. To honor him, a statue of Dr. Everhart and a lake named Lake Everhart were dedicated in 1911. Dr. Everhart passed away just five days later.
The Everhart Museum is the largest public museum in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It's a non-profit place that collects, cares for, and shows many different items. These include things about natural history, science, and beautiful art. The museum also has a library with books related to its collections.
Amusement Park Memories
Nay Aug Amusement Park was a smaller amusement park inside Nay Aug Park. It was run by Karl and Ralph Strohl, who got the park from their father.
The park had many fun rides. There were toy tanks, bumper cars, helicopters, and cars on a track. You could also ride a merry-go-round and boats in a small pond. One of the most exciting rides was a small wooden roller coaster called the Comet Coaster. There was even a miniature train that went around the roller coaster!
The building where the bumper cars were used to be a dance hall in the 1930s and 1940s. Big bands would come and play music there. Later, it became an arcade with games like pinball and skee-ball. The amusement park closed in the 1990s. Now, that area is a green space. A smaller amusement area is now located near the swimming pools.
Christmas Light Show
Since the early 2000s, Nay Aug Park has hosted a wonderful Christmas light show. It features more than 100 different light displays that celebrate the holiday season.
The show starts at the Mulberry Street entrance. It winds past the tree house, the old zoo area, the playground, and the pools. It then exits on Olive Street. Sometimes, if the weather is good, you can even take a horse and carriage ride! It's free to enter, but donations are welcome to help support the park all year long.
Images for kids
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Modern view of the waterfall.
