'The Dangers of Two Mile Run County Park; A Busted Spleen'

The Dangers of Two Mile Run County Park; A Busted Spleen

By Penny at 07/20/07 15:05

I think it is a downright shame that there is such a mess involving Two Mile Run Park. I am just a simple person, but it seems to me that this whole mess just keeps being needlessly made worse.

Several things come to mind all at once when I think of Two Mile Run and the recent articles I have read about it.

• Why in the world would they advertise FOR SALE the treehouse they built in the park for rentals? It is going to be sold by sealed bid and then the lucky new owner will have to dismantle the thing and take it home with them. Who in the heck would do that? Why don't they just leave it there? In understand that lawsuits are inhibiting the desire to have cabin rentals, but why can't the individuals causing all the mess think of someone besides themselves? (and I'm sorry but I think it is an absolutely frivolous venture taken on by the Beichners to sue because it would complete with their cabin rentals, and I myself believe they did it just to spite the Park Authority and didn't really think of the people in Venango County that actually may WANT to rent a treehouse or a cabin in the park.) Many people in the county LIKE to go to the park because they can do several things there with their families. Why not just prohibit people from walking in the park because it competes with the money people pay for gym or health club memberships? The government can take private property by power of eminent domain to give to a different private party for a "better" economic purpose... why can't they rent some tree houses?

• i Believe the people managing the park were either crooks or just plain stupid. I do not limit this opinion to the park authority who was just recently managing the park but the previous county commissioners (who in my humble opinion were only out to make sure they would profit from what happened to the park). How difficult can it be to get this concept: Make a nice place with varied activities that don't cost an arm and a leg to enjoy and people will COME. Families would come to the park to enjoy swimming, camping, cabin rentals, fishing, boating, and so many activities that could be happening with a little common sense. Instead, let's just all fight over it so nobody can enjoy it! Charging fees for activities are public parks is usual and having cabins for rent would no more compete with private enterprise than charging to camping spaces.

• If you took a vote from the people who actually live and pay taxes in Venango County, I would make a good bet that most of them would take an interest in making the park survive if any of us felt as though we had a say, vote, or the ability to help. It has been taken so far out of our hands we just sit back and shake our heads in wonder at the antics of these grown adults acting like spoiled little brats. Nobody has ever asked for the help or support of the community or given us a say in anything. They just continue to make decisions (all bad ones if you ask me). Did they ever ask for support from the community when the park was county owned? Didn't we step up to the plate when they asked for funding for the new swimming pool?

• Another frivolous idiot lawsuit: The issue with the observatory. Does ANYONE in Venango County actually care whose responsibility it is to clean up the area around the obervatory, or whether people should be allowed to park there? I will admit I don't know all of the details surrounding this lawsuit, but here is what I DO KNOW. Mr. Spuck spends hours and hours of his valuable time with students in Venango County and tries to get and keep them interested in science. Lord knows our kids have all kinds of BAD opportunities just in Oil City alone. I am not saying nobody has worthwhile programs out there. BUT, why in the heck should it be a fight for the observatory. Ask the PEOPLE what they want!

I am tired of never having a say for anything. You can say that voting gives you a voice over such matters, get involved! HA! I say voting for someone in a political office gives you SQUAT! They will do WHAT they want, HOW they want, and I have never heard of ONE SINGLE opportunity for the people of Venango County to step up, get involved in the park, volunteer, have a say. What do YOU say?

Can you beleive I had never visited Two Mile until last summer? Once I did, my family and I camped there 2 or 3 weekends a month, all season. I thought; this is it. Everything we want, affordable and close to home (Mercer Co). I looked forward to our first trip this season, only to be shot down by news about the park closing. Okay the website states the park is not closed. Right. You can fish the lake, which is great but let's face it; the park is essentially closed. Please tell me there's a solution on the horizon....

Name:     (required)
Email:    (required, not published)
Comment: