$200,000 grant will help Conneaut Lake Park with planning and development

By Jane Smith

11/16/05 November 15, 2005 09:44 pm

— Conneaut Lake Park hopes to secure a $200,000 planning and development grant by working through the area’s economic development agency.
The Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County will seek a state grant to prepare the park to seek developers to upgrade the facility.
Struggling through millions in debt amassed by previous owners, the historic amusement park recently had its volunteer board of directors resign. Because it’s operated as a charitable trust on behalf of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania, the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas named new managers.
One of those managers, LeRoy Stearns, explained that in addition to helping with the grant, the alliance will help “set up the procedures to move the park forward.”
In the meantime, the lease for Camperland isn’t being renewed at the request of the company that was leasing the campground that is part of the park.
Stearns said the park intends to run the facility next year.
A lease for the midway games expires Dec. 31, but no decision has been made yet whether to open that lease for others to bid or whether to have the park operate the games.
In addition, a financial report on the park’s operations through Labor Day — which was due in Crawford County Court on Sept. 25 — still hasn’ been submitted. It was to be prepared by the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, all of whom have resigned.
Terry Deitz, former chairman of the board, said the report is complete, but he wants to “talk to the rest of the board to look at it and have it approved before final submission.”

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