Volunteers invite city to Connell Park open house; community bike shop reports 700 bikes returned to riders

Gene Mcdana described the Cycle Kitchen community bike shop at Connell Park and invited residents to an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. He said the volunteer-run operation had received about 1,500 donated bikes and returned approximately 700 to riders, offering free first bikes for children and a sweat-equity model for adults.

"We have received about 1,500 donated bikes. Of those 1,500, about 700 of them have gone back out the door," Mcdana said. He described partnerships with the Scranton Area Foundation, recycling awards, a small volunteer core and plans to expand programming with a new part-time manager.

Council members thanked the group for its community work and asked for publicity; Mcdana distributed pamphlets and asked council to help spread word of the Saturday open house.