05/22/07 — CONNEAUT LAKE — Officials with the 115-year-old Conneaut Lake Park expect to know by 11 a.m. today if an offer from an anonymous local businessman will save the park from closing this year.

Court-appointed park overseer LeRoy Stearns had set 11 a.m. Monday as the deadline for receipt of enough money to open —approximately $104,000.

Moments after he met with about 15 park employees to tell them the park would be shut down, Stearns received a phone call.

“I received a phone call from (Crawford County Planner) Jack Lynch that a local businessman was trying to get in touch with us,” Stearns announced to the news media gathered at 11:10 a.m., saying the call came at 11.

With that phone call, Stearns delayed making the announcement.

Stearns said Lynch had told him the businessman wants to make an “offer to help open Conneaut Lake Park for 2007.” Stearns said, “If he’s giving a gift, that’s fine,” explaining there is no interest in a loan.

When 12:30 p.m. came and no phone call was received, the park’s director of operations, George Deshner, left to make personal contact with the businessman, who didn’t want to be identified. However, Stearns confirmed it was “not Joe Prishak,” referring to the Erie businessman who has loaned money to the park in the past to open.

By 1 p.m., Deshner had returned with no definite news. Stearns said until the offer is confirmed and the park is aware of what the details are, he couldn’t announce the park would open.

He said the park needs $100,000 to ensure its opening through July 4, but needs only $30,000 to open for certain Friday. An estimated $50,000 is needed to meet expenses and the park has $20,000 available.

Should the park be able to open, Stearns he said it will take “round the clock” work to prepare for its traditional Memorial Day weekend start, but he is confident it can happen.

Deshner said buildings are ready to go and the Beach Club bar/restaurant passed state inspection on Friday. Dreamland Ballroom was cleaned over the weekend and is ready.



Reason for delayed decision

Giving some background about why he waited until Monday to make an announcement about whether the park will open this season, Stearns said he and Deshner had met several weeks ago with Crawford County Commissioner Morris Waid and Lynch and had been working with Howard Brush of the Governor’s Northwest Region Office. The county officials had told Stearns they would find the money to open the park.

Based on that promise, park officials paid $6,500 for deposits for DoWopp Festival, which is set to begin Friday. Also paid were utility bills and other expenses to prepare the park to open.

But when Stearns contacted Waid on Friday, he was told there was no money. Stearns planned to announce Friday that the park wouldn’t open, he said, but then received several phone calls from Lynch on Friday afternoon asking him to delay until Monday at 11 a.m. Stearns agreed to wait.



Workers preparing to open

As Stearns and Deshner waited for the phone call Monday confirming the offer, others were busy preparing the park to open Friday.

A disc jockey has set up equipment in the Beach Club. Jeff Mona, one of the management team members to handle the Beach Club and all food service operations, was taking an inventory of food items and supplies and waiting for the final go-ahead.

Stearns said National Fuel Gas Co. had been there Monday morning to reconnect some gas lines after receiving a payment of $1,300.

As everyone waited for a phone call about the money, dozens and dozens of other phone calls were received from people wanting to know if the park was opening this week.



Future of the park

If the offer from the anonymous businessman falls through, Stearns said there is a possibility there could be a “free farewell concert” on the concert lawn as the park must pay the entertainers booked for Do-Wopp so they may as well allow them to entertain.

However, there would be nothing else open nor would there be any food or beverages available for purchase as the park has no money to buy those items.

In the meantime, if plans to open don’t materialize, Stearns said he will ask the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas to liquidate the park.

He said the county came up with a game plan which calls for a five-member committee to work to present a comprehensive plan for the park’s future. However, that plan calls for the park to be in operation.

He said the judge can take his recommendation or appoint a new board of directors. He will give the judge a list of applicants and the judge will make the appointments.

Stearns said neither he nor a board of directors can sell any real estate because of a restriction in the deed, so he is uncertain what the next move would be.

The park, which is charitable trust, has operated under court oversight since its board of trustees dwindled to one member.



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