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Luzerne County DA candidates to appear Thursday at public forum

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Venerable Delaware & Hudson Railway now part of Norfolk and Southern in Luzerne County

<p>Luzerne County government&#8217;s transfer of three recreational sites to the state officially closed Monday, county Manager Robert Lawton told the county council.</p><p>The transfer covers Moon Lake Park in Plymouth Township, the Seven Tubs Nature Area in Plains Township and a 400-acre parcel adjacent to Moon Lake that will link two sections of state forest property.</p><p>A council majority had voted to give the properties to the state in December, concluding the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will do a better job managing the county sites for recreation.</p><p>The county is minimally involved in its two remaining recreational sites &#8212; the Forty Fort Recreational Complex and River Common in Wilkes-Barre &#8212; because outside entities already handle programming and activities.</p><p>According to Lawton&#8217;s email to the council:</p><p>&#8226; The property closing was completed Monday morning. The state is now responsible for the 1,757 acres involved in the transfer but is allowing the county 60 days to remove equipment left at the sites.</p><p>&#8226; Under its agreement with the county, the state must pay $1.20 per acre in lieu of taxes, make some improvements and keep the property recreational.</p><p>&#8226; The county will retain timber rights for 25 years and permanently keep all mineral rights, preventing the state from pursuing natural gas drilling on the land.</p><p>&#8226; The state said it has contacted the RC Flyers radio-controlled airplane club to ensure its continued use of land at Moon Lake Park.</p><p>Moon Lake, which opened as a county park in 1971, has been on the decline for years as budget cuts prompted officials to eliminate a full-time director and seasonal support staff and close the pool and camping sites.</p><p>The park has been open for activities that don&#8217;t require intensive county oversight, such as fishing, mountain biking, hiking and cross-country skiing.</p><p>State officials said Moon Lake will be transformed to a low-maintenance natural park, with high grass and removal of the Olympic-sized swimming pool and most other structures.</p><p>The public bathrooms will be non-flushable sealed concrete vaults, and the designated camping areas will be rustic with no utility hook-up.</p><p>A new manicured area for picnics will be added near the future boat launch at the park&#8217;s 48-acre lake. A boat launch must be installed within five years of the state transfer for visitors who want to fish and enjoy the lake.</p><p>Several public parking areas to access the Moon Lake property also will be added as part of the transfer agreement.</p><p>Critics of the transfer said the county should hold onto the property and make improvements with past-borrowed capital funds and an annual recreation allotment from natural gas drilling.</p><p>County officials have estimated millions of dollars would be needed for repairs to the water and sewage treatment systems and other park infrastructure at Moon Lake to restore swimming and camping with amenities.</p><p>Vandalism has plagued both Moon Lake and the Tubs, which is located on state Route 115 and features hiking trails along scenic waterfalls.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL092215moonlake4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Moon Lake Park office has been boarded up for several years because Luzerne County government could not afford to operate the park. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL092215moonlake4.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Moon Lake Park office has been boarded up for several years because Luzerne County government could not afford to operate the park. </caption0><photoCredit0>File photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

State takeover of Moon Lake Park in Plymouth Township complete