MAYVILLE - The changes being planned for Midway State Park are on their way to becoming actualities, as officials held a public hearing Wednesday to hear comments on the recently-released draft master plan.
Of the dozen who attended the meeting, held at the Chautauqua Lake Central School auditorium, few spoke during the official comment portion.
However those who did shared the sentiment that renovations and upgrades can't come fast enough.
From the hippodrome's leaking roof and the rollerskating rink's refurbished floor to concerns about parking, bathrooms and concessions, individuals from Sinclairville, Mayville and Maple Springs urged the local, regional and state officials on hand to act quickly while preserving the historic aspects of the park.
"A master plan is great," said Maple Springs resident Douglas Conroe, adding that it doesn't mean much in the end, however, if it's not implemented.
Midway Park was privately operated by the Walsh family for about 50 years prior to the state park system's purchasing the park in 2006. It is one of the longest continuously-running parks in the country, having first been established in 1898 as a trolley park. Salim Adler, park planner, has said that the park was purchased by the state after it was identified as "a priority acquisition" due to the access it could provide to Chautauqua Lake, in addition to its historical nature.
The state's plans for the park are expected to take about a decade to complete, with the pace of improvements being determined by the availability of money.
For more about the draft master plan and its proposed changes, visit www.post-journal.com and search the words Big Midway Ideas. The official comment period will run through Friday, Sept. 18. Comments should be directed to Mike Miecznikowski, New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Allegany regional director, 2373 ASP Route No. 1, Suite 3, Salamanca, N.Y. 14779 or by calling 354-6575.
Staff writer Sharon Turano contributed to this story.