Conneaut Lake Park is a special place for many families living next to it.
For some, it's a reminder of childhood “We would come up here every weekend since the time I was a baby in arms,” Carol Anderson told Erie News Now.
Others moved to the neighborhood adjacent to escape. "I was going through a lot because one of my sons passed away. I just needed some peace and space,” said Rhonda Jaquay.
But, these homeowners say the opposite has happened since Conneaut Lake Park came under new ownership in March of this year.
Carol Anderson says she was mailed a letter from Keldon Holdings, LLC., the limited liability company that bought Conneaut Lake Park, banning her from the park. The reason? She says it's because she's speaking up.
"I'm trying to do the right thing for everyone here, and people are waking up to what is being done here. At first, they were really believing the park would be revitalized, but that revitalization hasn't happened,” said Anderson.
Now, several neighbors are working to hopefully save the park and protect their property from being scrapped. "They're knocking on people's doors, saying this much of your property belongs to the new park owner. People are up in arms because they've been taking care of this property for 20-30 years,” said Jaquay.
In September, the owner of the park applied for a LERTA tax abatement. It’s a program meant to incentivize new development for blighted communities. Todd Joseph applied for the program in Sadsbury Township for 18 acres on the east side of Conneaut Lake.
Jaquay says this is a big deal. "He's asking for tax abatements, and down the road, that could cost all of us increased taxes, so it does effect everybody,” she said.
All this for a proposed 80-unit development. So at Tuesday's meeting, they're asking township supervisors to take a hard look into proposed developments before moving forward. They’re also looking for clarity for the future of the park and its surrounding properties.
"These subdivisions now should not be passed until Todd Joseph explains to the residents what's going to happen with the water, what's going to happen to the water tower. What are his intentions here? We want to know what to expect,” said Anderson.