Brandstetter Carroll Inc. is currently working on the design of the multi-purpose trail and the improvements to the recently donated LeSourdsville Lake/Americana Amusement Park property. Part of the agreement with Jerry Couch and Butler Tech was that the City would improve the entrance road to the park and Butler Tech’s property. City Economic Development Director Kevin Chesar said the road has already been dedicated by the city.
City officials asked BCI to give them a proposal to design Jerry Couch Boulevard since they were completing the other work related to the park. The cost associated with design, bidding and construction administration for this project is $51,300.
Current plans for the former amusement park property include an extension of the Great Miami River Recreation Trail bike path, which covers about half of the distance within the city limits.
Council approved the property donation agreement with Couch at its April 4 meeting. The parcels include the city-owned land on Lakeview Drive that is the former LeSourdsville Fire House and about 51 acres of land owned by Couch that includes the former Americana Amusement Park. Chesar said the closing on the property should happen in the next few weeks.
MORE: Items from old Americana property divided between city, owner
Some items from the former amusement park will be kept by the city of Monroe before the land is converted into a park and bike path. As part of the agreement, Couch wanted to keep a number of items that include old work trailers, a light pole, an old golf cart, some old propane gas tanks, some old pedal boats, an old dilapidated train car frame, a wagon trailer, a dome canopy, various metal parts and a pile of stones, according to Chesar.
City Manager William Brock said the city plans to clean up the park by the end of the year so people can walk there as well as installing security cameras and lights. He said the city anticipates to keep the area mowed and are evaluating future use of the former park administration building as a future parks or public works department office. Brock said other structures such as the old water tower may need to be demolished.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Todd Hickman raised some concerns after he took a walk through the old amusement park last weekend.
“The whole area back there is a mess,” he said. “It will take a lot of money to clean it up.”
Hickman encouraged other council members to take a look at the property.
Last month, Butler Tech officials purchased $2.75 million purchase for 36 acres along the western border of Monroe will lead to a new adult education campus for the career school system.
The property along Ohio 4 just south of the Ohio 63 interchange includes the adjacent lot of what used to be Couch’s Campers as well as the former amusement park property.
Butler Tech said the area will be developed in conjunction with the city of Monroe.
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