SBNO parks in ohio, educate me please.
O.K. I have visited numerous sites on Idora and Chippewaw lake park(might not be spelled right). After looking through these sites I have a bunch of questions to ask.
What is the deal with a church group putting up signs in front of one of Idoras coasters? If the park is abandoned, who is putting the dumpsters on site? Do these parks have current owners or are these parks owned by the city that they reside in?
Why would these parks just sit there and not be totally demolished? Why would the local people put up with this? I dont get it. Excuse me for asking these questions but I am from the Chicago area and this has never happened before. We have had Riverview, Old Chicago, and another park in Addison(cant remember the name) and all of these parks have been demolished within 5 years of there closing. Please educate me on this.
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
What is the deal with a church group putting up signs in front of one of Idoras coasters? If the park is abandoned, who is putting the dumpsters on site? Do these parks have current owners or are these parks owned by the city that they reside in?
Why would these parks just sit there and not be totally demolished? Why would the local people put up with this? I dont get it. Excuse me for asking these questions but I am from the Chicago area and this has never happened before. We have had Riverview, Old Chicago, and another park in Addison(cant remember the name) and all of these parks have been demolished within 5 years of there closing. Please educate me on this.
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
I don't know much about Idora, other than I've driven past it, but Chippewa is without question the most odd place in Ohio.
Anywhere else in the country, a small town next to a big lake, just beyond the suburbs of two major cities (Cleveland and Akron), would be a total money location. Lots of big houses and such, right? Not in this weird little place.
There are a few nice houses, but for the most part the area is a total slum. The shacks and small residences were nothing more than weekend vacation homes for people who lived in the cities. They were not intended to be primary residences.
How that slide happened I couldn't tell you. At some point during some economic shift it became an area for low income housing. This is particularly ironic because neighboring Medina is a fairly well-to-do city, and one of the fastest growing in the state.
As for the park, I'd chalk that one up to having an unimaginative owner who doesn't realize what they're sitting on. The county park district has made offers to buy it, but even that requires that they pass a tax levy to make it happen (it failed last attempt).
My theory is that the park district will eventually get it and bulldoze everything. My hope is that they at least try to preserve the ballroom, as it is an historic building.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Anywhere else in the country, a small town next to a big lake, just beyond the suburbs of two major cities (Cleveland and Akron), would be a total money location. Lots of big houses and such, right? Not in this weird little place.
There are a few nice houses, but for the most part the area is a total slum. The shacks and small residences were nothing more than weekend vacation homes for people who lived in the cities. They were not intended to be primary residences.
How that slide happened I couldn't tell you. At some point during some economic shift it became an area for low income housing. This is particularly ironic because neighboring Medina is a fairly well-to-do city, and one of the fastest growing in the state.
As for the park, I'd chalk that one up to having an unimaginative owner who doesn't realize what they're sitting on. The county park district has made offers to buy it, but even that requires that they pass a tax levy to make it happen (it failed last attempt).
My theory is that the park district will eventually get it and bulldoze everything. My hope is that they at least try to preserve the ballroom, as it is an historic building.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Idora park is actually owned by Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church. They bought the land after the park closed and had big plans...a "religious community." They were going to build a new church, nursing home, housing and educational facilities. However, they never came up with the money and ended up losing the property to foreclosure. Somehow in 1994, Mount Calvary repurchased the land and said that they were going ahead with their original plans and it would be called "City of God," hence the sign right in front of the Jack Rabbit.
Over the years they still have done nothing until last year when the dumpsters started showing up. From what I understand, they were ordered to get the place cleaned up because it is a potentially dangerous situation with old rotting building and people going into the park to take pictures. Hopefully, somebody will decide to rebuild the Jack Rabbit and Wildcat. Rumors are that Conneaut Lake Park would like to, but they have to come up with the money first.
If you are interested in the history of Idora, get Idora Park by Charles Jacques. This book has so much interesting information and is easy reading. Once you start, you don't want to stop till you've read it all.
Lori
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Thank you for riding America's Roller Coast
Over the years they still have done nothing until last year when the dumpsters started showing up. From what I understand, they were ordered to get the place cleaned up because it is a potentially dangerous situation with old rotting building and people going into the park to take pictures. Hopefully, somebody will decide to rebuild the Jack Rabbit and Wildcat. Rumors are that Conneaut Lake Park would like to, but they have to come up with the money first.
If you are interested in the history of Idora, get Idora Park by Charles Jacques. This book has so much interesting information and is easy reading. Once you start, you don't want to stop till you've read it all.
Lori
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Thank you for riding America's Roller Coast
Playland Park is down the road. They demolished it and put in a sub-station. All but the skating rink in back and the "put-put golf" in the front by the road. My mom and dad said there used to be a sweet ride called daytona 500 and a small kiddie coaster. The sign with a clown still is out front.
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"God gave me a wake up call," RelientK-"Wake Up Call"
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"God gave me a wake up call," RelientK-"Wake Up Call"
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