Pocono News Section

Moon Lake park could close

Moon Lake park could close - Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 5:57PM EST

Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 @ 05:57pm EST

Moon Lake park director Clif Madrack says he was told his staff would be laid off January 28th, essentially closing the park.

"It's just unfortunate there isn't any money to provide money for the parks so they have to shut them down but a lot of people are going to be disenfranchised," said Madrak.

County Manager Doug Pape says there is hope to keep the park open.

The county is looking for private companies to manage the park in case of a shut down.

That would mean it would stay open.

Possible park employee layoffs won't be finalized until a January 20th commissioners meeting.

The thought of a Moon Lake -less Luzerne County doesn't sit well with people we caught up with.

Chet Stone of Wilkes-Barre said, "It's unfortunate, there's not that many more places to go. I thought this place made it's own money back in the summertime."

Madarak couldn't say exactly how many people visited Moon Lake last year but he said on July 4th weekend, more than 15 hundred cars came through the park entrance.

Madrak tells us plans to close the park are already in motion.

He says park gear like boats and life jackets are being taken from the park to another location.