Moon Lake Status - Luzerne County

[ole sam]

I posted this from the Times Leader on IS as well since we're in a transition between the two:

"Moon Lake will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, starting this weekend, he said.

Robshaw said he will attempt to expand hours when the park is used more heavily in the summer but can’t make promises.

The news puts the upcoming trout stockings scheduled for the park in limbo, according to Bryan Bendock, assistant regional supervisor for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Currently, the agency has scheduled three stockings -- one prior to the April 14 opening day of trout season followed by two more -- April 28 and May 5.

Bendock said if the county decides to keep the gate closed but allow people to walk into the park, the agency will continue with the scheduled stockings.

If not, the PFBC would likely cancel Moon Lake from the stocking schedule."

There's more detals in the actual article if you want to read it.

[reel_mccoy]

if its the front main gate they may keep locked during the week that would sure make for one heck of a walk in and out of there!!!  you'd have to stop fishing at 3 just to get back your car by 430!!!!     

[draketrutta]

I was just about to post that link,,

County Security Dept cutbacks caused the weekday closings - really??

Security for what??

an empty pool, empty ball fields, dilapidated buildings??

here is the TL link:

http://www.timesleader.com/news/State_could_figure_in_Moon_Lake_Park_rsquo_s_future_03-06-2012.html

Must be pretty hard to open/close a gate - might interfere with someone's cat naps...

It is quite disparaging how our county officials play kick the can with this gem of nature..

Why am I not surprised?

 

[ole sam]

Yes, I read the above article in this morning's Times Leader.  We've been discussing this over on the IS site as well.  I do wish that the PFC would take over managing the lake at Moon Park.

[salmonrebel]

As I've said, over on IS, Sam....Thanks for keeping us posted on this.
The last article I saw on this(in which I believe was Mar6th), is posted below.

Moon Lake worthy of better upkeep
– the nearly 650-acre Luzerne County campground and recreation area in Plymouth Township – deserves better than to fall into further disrepair while, for yet another season, its future remains murky.

The place should swarm with visitors on warm spring days. By summer, its double Olympic-sized swimming pool ought to draw oodles of area residents seeking cool relief. Instead, most park amenities have been idled in recent years because of the county’s ongoing budget problems. As recently as this week, public access has been restricted to Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Moon Lake’s gates will be latched on weekdays.

Fortunately, two state lawmakers hope to intervene, restoring at least some activities and ensuring lake access for trout season. State Rep. Gerald Mullery and state Sen. John Yudichak, whose constituents have voiced concern about the park, intend to muster support from state agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Their stated aim: a partnership between county and state.

Perhaps the best outcome, however, would be for Moon Lake’s ownership to one day be transferred, ending any county control. This oasis probably could be better protected and maintained as a state park or the property of another conservation-minded institution.

Two years ago, Luzerne County’s commissioners appeared ready to plunder the park for potential revenue from the natural gas drilling industry. Historically, few of this county’s leaders seemed to fully grasp the potential of its outdoor recreational assets, including the splendid Seven Tubs Natural Area in Plains Township.

Don’t expect significant change under the newly installed Luzerne County Council. Its members understandably are fixated on the county’s bottom line, and few of them seem inclined to devote dollars toward “nonessential” programs.

At the risk of sounding like the Lorax, Dr. Seuss’ magical character who speaks on behalf of the trees and this month is making an appearance in movie theaters, the fate of our natural resources rests largely in the hands of people like you.

Unless you voice concern for the park and offer your ideas, the status quo probably will prevail. Unless you tell elected leaders that you value places such as Moon Lake, these spots likely will languish. Unless you do something, nothing much will be done.

Unless …

Fortunately, two state lawmakers hope to intervene, restoring at least some activities and ensuring lake access for trout season.

[salmonrebel]

I might add....That, I haven't seen any cancellation to the trout stocking there as of yet...So, for now(from the way it looks)...we just gotta hope that Yudichek and Mullary get something done right away.

[draketrutta]

I hope they get it up & running - with at least full access for fishing..

Maybe I'm missing something here,

regarding the dangers of the Gas Fracking..

Given Moon Lakes close proximity to the water supply resovoir ( basically right across the road), would the powers that be & govt regs allow drilling that close to such a large water supply res?

Are there any standards/laws currently in place to prevent that from happening?

[draketrutta]

Rebel - it's not much, but I will spend 5 minutes sending an email to the two legislators you listed..

[salmonrebel]

Rebel - it's not much, but I will spend 5 minutes sending an email to the two legislators you listed..

That's good, Greg.
Every little bit helps send the message.

[draketrutta]

in today's Times Leader newspaper

County is applying for a state grant to build boat launch

http://www.timesleader.com/stories/County-will-apply-for-Moon-Lake-boat-funding,131743

[ole sam]

If the county gets funding, we better make sure they actually build the boat launch and the $$ doesn't disappear like it di at the Hotel Sterling!

[salmonrebel]

If the county gets funding, we better make sure they actually build the boat launch and the $$ doesn't disappear like it di at the Hotel Sterling!

Ain't that the truth, Sam.
An I know we ain't the only ones here, that share the same feelings on this.

Thanks for posting the link for the latest news on this, Greg.
Happy to see it'll be open, from what I read....But, as usual...the hours, are not prime fishing times....
8am-6pm wkdays, 8am-7pm wkends.

[ole sam]

PUBLIC HEARING APRIL 18TH on Master Plan:

From today's CV:

Proposals to fund improvements at Moon Lake Park will be unveiled April 18 in a new park master plan.

Luzerne County hired consultants to update the master plan, which the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources required before approving grants for the park. State grants could eventually lead to reopening the pool and campground on the 672-acre park in Plymouth Township.

The County Council approved a request from Chief Engineer Joe Gibbons last week to apply for grant to build a boat launch at the park. That project would cost about $100,000, and state grant would cover half the cost, Gibbons said.

Borton-Lawson, a Wilkes-Barre-based architecture and engineering firm, and Sasaki Associates, a firm from Watertown, Mass., are the consultants. They will discuss the new master plan at a public hearing at 6 p.m. April 18 at the Emergency Management Building in Wilkes-Barre. The County Council will next have to vote to approve the plan, Gibbons said.

Park operations and expenditures have been scaled back significantly in recent years. This year's budget for the park is $66,614. Park expenditures exceeded $575,000 in 2007.

County officials plan to keep the park open seven days a week, starting this weekend. Last month, the county closed the park weekdays because of security staff layoffs, but kept the park open on weekends for hiking, biking and fishing.

The consultants at the April 18 hearing will review a wish list of potential improvements and the cost of the improvements, Gibbons said. It will be up to the County Council or Manager Robert Lawton to decide which improvements to support, Gibbons said, adding he did not want to release a draft of the plan before the meeting.

The county agreed to pay the consultants $120,000, and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources agreed to pay for of half of that cost.

[salmonrebel]

Thanks for the recent update, Sam.
I am gonna try to make it to that meeting.
I have seen another column in the newspaper. It is listed below.

County to present Moon Lake activities
The group also will discuss whether any of the uses would be attractive to private operators.


 Jennifer Learn Andes - [email protected] - 570-970-7333 - Twitter: @TLJenLearn

Last summer citizens were asked to list activities they’d like to see at Moon Lake Park as part of a master plan that will help determine the future of the Luzerne County-owned complex in Plymouth Township.

On April 18 the county will publicly present the proposed plan incorporating some of those activities and the projected costs and revenue associated with each, said county Chief Engineer Joe Gibbons.

Camping was ranked highest by citizens and a volunteer steering committee, followed by swimming, hiking, fishing, nature education, special events, shooting and archery, sports camps, snow tubing, ice skating, rock climbing, a dog park, zip lines, disc golf and flying radio-controlled aircraft, Gibbons has said.

After the activities and financial estimates are disclosed, the county will seek public feedback at the hearing on whether those uses make sense, Gibbons said.

The group also will discuss whether any of the uses would be attractive to private operators. County officials have unsuccessfully tried to seek outside operators who would cover staffing and maintenance in exchange for revenue opportunities at the park, eliminating the need for county funding.

The county must formally adopt the final master plan.

The state may cover 50 percent of recreational improvements at the 650-acre facility, but the state won’t turn over more funding until the county completes the master plan. The county will be responsible for park maintenance.

Gibbons said he will discuss state feedback on the park at the hearing.

County officials have applied for state funding to build a boat launch because it has been identified as a need. Boats with electric motors are not permitted on the lake.

The park has been open weekends only in recent weeks because of security staff layoffs, but county officials came up with a plan to reopen the park daily from the second week of April into November.

The park’s water and electrical distribution systems, sewage treatment plant, pool and campgrounds need costly repairs, officials have said.

Sasaki Associates Inc., Watertown, Mass., is completing the master plan.

WHAT’S NEXT
The final public hearing on the Moon Lake Park master plan will be at 6 p.m. April 18 at the county’s Emergency Management Agency building on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre.