CLARK, PA. Army corps weighs idea for lake site

Another campground at the lake may not be what the Corps of Engineers wants.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
CLARK, Pa. -- Mark Kasiorek is waiting for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' response to his proposal to build a campground with some cabins on the former Shenango Valley YMCA camp site on the south shore of Shenango River Lake.
A corps spokesman said the federal agency may no longer be interested in Kasiorek's plan.
"We don't know if that's what we want. We don't know if we want another campground," said Bill Wilson, realty specialist with the corps' Pittsburgh office.
The corps already has its own campground across the lake from the old YMCA campground, he said.
"I really think we want to put a lodge in there," Wilson said. "That attracts people, but we didn't get any bids for that."
The corps has been having a difficult time getting any development proposals, and Kasiorek's plan is the only one on the table at this point.
The Volant man made a preliminary presentation to the corps in February and was asked to put together a full development plan.
'Full-service' plan
He proposes to develop a "full-service" campground on the 43-acre site. This would include water and electric hookups at each campsite and a central bathroom and shower facility.
His plan would offer more than 100 full hook-up campsites, 10 cabins built over a five-year period, a swimming pool, a recreation room, a camp store and laundry and restrooms. It would be open 365 days a year.
"We submitted a ton of paperwork and a development plan in July or August," Kasiorek said last week, adding that he is awaiting word on a meeting date to discuss the corps' review of his plan.
"That's pretty much on hold right now, pretty much because of the funding," Wilson said, citing budgetary concerns that have cut back on the corps' ability to perform more than mandatory routine tasks.
"We're prioritizing our work right now," he said, explaining that looking at the Shenango River Lake development plan isn't high on the agenda right now.
The corps' fiscal year began Oct. 1 but it doesn't have a new budget yet, he said.
Even when operations return to normal, the corps may not look favorably on Kasiorek's plan, Wilson said.
"We just don't know what route we're going with the project at Shenango," he said.
Envisions a lodge resort
The corps had wanted someone to build a lodge resort there but never got any proposals for a project of that scope, despite repeated attempts.
It's been trying to find a developer ever since it refused to renew the YMCA's campground lease in 2000. The YMCA had used the land as a primitive campground for 30 years.
The corps wanted to see a full recreational facility with overnight lodging and sports programs beyond just water-related activities.
Two advertising attempts to find a developer came up empty and Kasiorek's proposal came unsolicited.
Wilson said a survey of groups that had expressed interest in the site showed they were reluctant to spend money on land they can't own.
The corps wants a development there but will only lease the land for 25 years with possible extensions totaling up to 25 additional years. It won't sell the land.
Kasiorek said not owning the site isn't a concern for him.
Wilson said that, should Kasiorek's plan be rejected, the corps may decide to go with an offer from The Gateway Group of Cleveland, which helped develop Jacobs Field and other sports venues.
Gateway has offered to be an intermediary, seeking out developers and financing for the site, Wilson said.