At the same time, he said, it was something necessary for the “next step in the development of Conneaut Lake Park.”

Bids on cleaning up the debris from the fire are now being accepted and Stearns said he hopes that work can be done quickly.

The park plans to develop the land where the house stood, which is really “two parcels,” said Stearns, noting it includes 376 feet of lakefront property. He is uncertain how deep the lot will be yet, but confirmed that plans are being discussed to sell the land for development of a lakefront condominium.

That may also include the adjacent parking lot.

The house has been idle since last fall and since the fire has sat with the charred remains apparent to all who passed by the site. Stearns said the clean up will allow the park to have a nice appearance for those visiting the park as well.

Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com

60 volunteers join forces for Park’s clean up weekend

CONNEAUT LAKE PARK — While volunteer firefighters were burning the Flynn House, about 60 other volunteers were working throughout Conneaut Lake Park Saturday, helping get it cleaned up for opening day on Memorial Day weekend.

“We had representatives of two different state and eight counties,” said George Deshner, general manager of CLP.

“We had a lot of repeat volunteers who come year after year,” he said. Saturday’s activities included moving records, picking up limbs and brush and raking leaves.

For those who would like to volunteer, they still can do so. Volunteers can just report to Conneaut Lake Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they will be put to work.

If you go this morning, you will be given lunch at noon, at which time a special program will be presented. Since Hotel Conneaut is off limits to non-employees, lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs and macaroni salad will be served in the arcade on the midway, Deshner said.

Today’s planned work includes moving Christmas decorations from the hotel to a house near the hotel. Employees can go inside the hotel and hand the decorations to volunteers, who then will carry them to the house. Entrance to the hotel is banned until the sprinkler system is cleaned and certified as safe for the public to enter the building.