We are so very fortunate to have many organizations giving back to the communities across the Pocono Mountains, including the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, which over the past few years has given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to communities like Mount Pocono here and projects like this pocket park, but many more projects than that... that make us extremely Pocono proud.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jim Hamill (@jimhamillptn)

In the middle of winter, the Knob Overlook in Mount Pocono has views upon views — the Delaware Water Gap in the distance, Camelback Mountain to name a few. The trails and vantage point here are a favorite of Jeremie Schuster’s in any season.

Jeremie Schuster – Mount Pocono Resident
“In the summertime, I come up here pretty often. I would be running up here usually just for the view. You'll always see an eagle or great fall colors or just other random things that you just come across up here.”

The Knob Overlook wasn’t always this welcoming. Mount Pocono Borough saw its potential and applied for funding from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. The result: new signage, paved access and trail work for everyone to enjoy.

Marissa Duffy – Mount Pocono Borough Manager
“It's cleared. It's accessible now. There's signage, um, landscaping, all the things to kind of make it a have a facelift.”

Jeremie
“I think it's been awesome. I mean, it definitely has brought more people up to the knob itself to really take in the beautiful views that we have.”

Our region certainly has a lot to be proud of. Our quality of life across the four counties and numerous communities benefits from tourism dollars. More than 1.5 million in PMVB grants have been pumped back into more than 150 projects, ranging from new parks signs, arts projects, safety improvements, even park upgrades in Pocono Township — and a drone program for its police department.

Back in Mount Pocono, another example of the good work being done by volunteers: Sergeant Major Claudette Williams — retired from the Army, but carrying on the mission to celebrate the contributions of so many women in combat.

Ret. Sgt. Maj. Claudette Williams – Women Veterans Museum
“It is needed. I've seen so many veterans that came in our door that felt like they were at home. I've had veterans that said, oh my God, I feel like I can relax here. I can share my story.”

The faces, the uniforms, and in particular, the flags and poles that honor all branches of the military were the result of that Community Impact Grant from the Visitors Bureau. Pocono tourism dollars doing good in the community.

Claudette
“But because of that grant, we were able to fly those flagpoles with the different branches of service, um, on it. So that was that contribution was very, very helpful to us.”

From veterans honored for their sacrifices over the years at this museum in Mount Pocono’s Five Corners… to an empty lot in the downtown now transformed into a pocket park for the community.

These holiday decorations were thanks to tourism grant money, along with some of the construction of this new space for visitors — and especially residents.

Jeremie
“Once we saw that park pop up, we were super excited because there's the tables and everything else and it's a great day. You can literally just sit outside, enjoy your food.”

Marissa Duffy
“When we invest in our parks, like our downtown park, it has pumped some energy into downtown. It is now a vibrant, accessible, welcoming space and before it was just a vacant lot, so it wasn't being used for anything. Now we see people gathering, having lunch there, using the open space.

In Mount Pocono, the impact of the visitor's Bureau has been felt a tremendous way, a such substantial improvements in the borough. Um, we're seeing not only from our residents point of view, but from visitors point of view, downtown decorations replacing them doesn't sound like a big deal, but it makes a big deal.”

A big deal thanks in small part to the pride shared by the tourism industry across the Poconos. Watch for more projects later this year that will be supported in your community in the same way.