State funding allows Geauga Lake Park demo to resume
Demolition work on nine parcels on the Bainbridge Township side of the former Geauga Lake Park should resume soon, after a $4.12 million state grant was recently rewarded for the project.
Demolition work, mostly including removing ride/building concrete pads, asphalt and walkways, began nearly 1½ years ago, with Sitetech Inc. of Grafton removing thousands of tons of aggregate.
The only significant building remaining on the property is the ballroom along state Route 43 between East Boulevard and Moneta Avenue in Aurora, just north of the Geauga Lake Improvement Corp.’s small lakeside park.
According to Geauga County Economic Development Director Gina Hofstetter, most all of the grant money that the county received from the state’s Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program will go toward the Geauga Lake project.
A small portion will go toward the demolition of the Henry House in Chester Township.
Developer Industrial Commercial Properties of Solon will be responsible for 25% of the remaining cost of the demolition. Geauga County will receive and disburse the state funds but will not be responsible for spending any of its own money.
“This project is a huge investment for the community and presents an incredible opportunity to turn this blighted vacant land into something productive,” said Hofstetter. “It’s not often that grants of this magnitude come about.”
Completion of the demolition at the site is expected by mid-2024.
The state’s Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is designed to award grants for the demolition of commercial and residential buildings and revitalization of surrounding properties.
Nearly $150 million was initially available. So far 3,699 projects in 87 counties have received funding.
“By ridding our state of eyesores that are hindering development and impacting property values, we can revitalize our communities and attract new investments, businesses, jobs and housing opportunities,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.
ICP Senior Vice President of Development Jeff Martin said last August that the Geauga Lake Park site redevelopment project was a “slow go given the massive foundation systems and amount of impervious cover that remained after the park’s closure.”
Martin said there are “some exciting plans in the works for the lakefront district that will surely restore the prominence of the Geauga Lake name, while creating a community with restaurants and recreational amenities to attract people across the region.”
What are the future plans for the former Geauga Lake Park?
Geauga Lake Park dates to 1887, when it was called Giles Pond and soon after Picnic Lake Park. It closed for good in 2007. Wildwater Kingdom remained open until 2016.
For several years, the property deteriorated and became an eyesore and a place for trespassing and vandalism.
A Menards home improvement store and a Meijer supercenter are among the first businesses that could locate there. Geauga County real estate records show Menards has purchased 20 acres of former park land north of the former park’s main gate.
Officials of the two retail chains have been tight-lipped about plans. Offices and restaurants also are planned on the Bainbridge side, along with a 331-unit apartment complex to be called VP Park at Geauga Lake.
ICP bought 377 acres on the Bainbridge side, and is developing most of the multi-use site as the Geauga Lake District. It sold 19.5 acres to Vision Development of Columbus for the proposed residential portion.
Pulte Homes bought 246 acres on the north side of Treat Road on the Aurora side, and development there has been rapid, with dozens of homes built in the past year and 20 acres near Liberty Ford designated for commercial/retail.
ICP Vice President of Leasing and Acquisitions Austin Semarjian said VD will start construction on the apartment complex made up of 14 buildings after land clearing is completed.
ICP has decided to name a main street on the Bainbridge side Big Dipper Lane in honor of the park’s longtime wooden roller coaster, which was built in 1925 and demolished in 2016.
A miniature replica of the Big Dipper is another structure that could adorn the property.
The township and city have set up a Joint Economic Development District, which allows income tax from the businesses locating in the Bainbridge portion of the Geauga Lake District to be shared between the two communities.
Contact the newspaper at auroraadvocate@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Demo will resume at Geauga Lake Park with $4.12 million grant
