By Doris Cook
June 02, 2006 12:37 pm
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By Doris Cook
Ashtabula Star Beacon
ANDOVER, Ohio —Fishing, swimming and boating are just a few of the
activities awaiting visitors to Pymatuning State Park on the Ohio side of
the 14,000-acre lake setting in southeastern Ashtabula County.
Park manager Phil Vichosky said Ohio Department of Natural Resources
self-operates the 60 rental cottages in the park’s 3,500 acres with more
than 300 campsites for tents and recreation vehicles. Twenty-seven of the
cottages are available year-round for rental even in winter months.
Vichosky has spent 33 years with ODNR in various capacities. In addition to
duties at Pymatuning State Park, he also is regional manager of Geneva State
Park.
“We expect a busy season. Our cottage rentals are already getting filled.
Many Amish families vacation here in April and May. They come to fish and
just relax with their families. Summer months are busy with what I term the
urbanites and we have people coming from Pennsylvania, Cleveland area and
New York,” Vichosky said.
“We do not charge an entrance fee as some parks do to just come in to fish
or swim. And we do not put a surcharge on cottage or campsite rentals for
out-of-state visitors. We are one of five in the U.S. with this policy.”
Vichosky and his 12 full-time and 20 part-time park employees have been busy
getting ready for the tourist season.
A seasonal naturalist will be hired soon to conduct nature- and
environmental-related programs for campers this summer and fall. The big
season at the park runs from April to Aug. 15 with things winding down Labor
Day weekend.
“It has worked out the month of October is a big month for cottage rentals
here. The two-bedroom cottages are preferred by many families. Cottages are
rental by the week from Memorial Day to mid-August,” Vichosky said.
To rent cottages or for more information, call a central reservation line
for state parks at (866) OHIOPARKS.
Vichosky said until mid-July the northern sector campsites are off-limits
because a pair of bald eagles set up housekeeping in the tall trees. Bald
eagles are an endangered species and federally protected birds.
“We’ve set up road barriers and request people to not go into this area. The
eggs will be hatching soon or have already. We have volunteers, who keep an
eye on the nests and what’s happening. This is the first pair we have had on
this Ohio side of the lake that I can recall.”
The lake has limited horsepower for boats with 9.9 horsepower allowable
only. It’s a great fishing area with walleye, northern pike, bass and
crappie in plentiful supply.
There has been an effort again to raise the horsepower on both the Ohio and
Pennsylvania sides of the lake, Vichosky said. State Rep. George Distel of
Ashtabula proposed the bill to go up to 20 horsepower on a 16-foot or large
pontoon boats.
It has passed in the Ohio General Assembly and is now being considered by
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation state park officials.
Improvements this past year at Pymatuning State Park included resurfacing of
roads. Another needed facility came with the complete renovation of a former
cabin, which was partly destroyed by fire in 2005. The new Bowers Launch
area has a new sidewalk for fishing and benches along the lake border.
Landscaping and new drainage also has been added in this area.
“It is conveniently located in the rental cabin areas. Before people would
have to clean fish by the shore or on the picnic tables. This should work
out much better,” Vichosky said.
Several annual festivals are on tap for the season at the park. They include
the Pymatuning Lake Festival on the first weekend in August, which is
sponsored by the Andover Chamber of Commerce. It features artisans, games,
food and fireworks staged at the main beach area.
“We usually get up to 10,000 people coming and it’s great for Andover
Village businesses as well. In the fall on the third weekend in September is
a Fall Campout Weekend with lots of activities planned,” Vichosky said.
On July 15, the Pyma-Laker 5K and Kids’ Half Mile Fun Run is scheduled to
begin at Birches’ Landing in the park. The half-mile starts at 8:30 a.m. and
the 5K at 9. Entry fees are $12 if pre-registered by July 11 or $15 day of
run for adults and $10 for the Kids’ Run. For more information, c all Shawna
Bryan at (440) 293-4164. All proceeds benefit the Pymatuning Valley
cross-country program at the school district.
For boat rentals the Pymatuning Liveries Inc. operates at two locations on
the Ohio side: Birches Livery (south) and Paranormal (north) on the lake.
For information, call the corporate office at (440) 293-5156, 293-5155 or
293-5154. Everything from rowboats to pontoon craft is available for rent by
the hour, day or week. Seasonal dockage is also available at the two
locations.
The park located on the western shore of Pymatuning Reservoir has a long
list of activities for outdoor recreation lovers.
Picnic shelters, hiking trails, summer nature programs, swimming beaches and
lots of fishing spots are open to the public, said Vichosky. The park office
is located on Pymatuning Lake Road south or call 293-6684 for information on
events or general information.
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