PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP -- After years of neglect, the state now owns Moon Lake Park, but don't call it a state park. It falls under the Department of Forestry.
Take a stroll through Moon Lake Park near Plymouth, and evidence of neglect is everywhere, from an old boarded-up office building to a dried-up swimming pool to a basketball court overgrown with weeds.
"Some of the most pristine forests in all of northeastern Pennsylvania are right here," said State Sen. John Yudichak, (D) Luzerne County.
Yudichak fought to transfer the former county park to state control, although it won't be a state park. It will be part of the state forest system.
"We need to turn it back to its original glory. The glory it was when I was a kid I want to pass on to my four beautiful girls and all the kids."
The state plans to add new parking lots, improve trails, and better maintain the area. That's something people who use the lake say they want to see happen.
"It's a good thing. It gets quite a lot of use. Bring your kids here, there' s a lot of mountain biking here. I mountain bike here," said Slocum Township resident David Scott.
"It needs work! You can see the grass is high," said Bob Katra who is excited about the state replacing the old boat launch.
"Well, you can see the kids. If we had paddle boats, we'd be renting paddle boats, too, fishing out of them."
His grandkids agree renting a real boat to take farther out into the lake would be a neat thing to do, instead of sharing an inflatable one grandpa bought.
"The boat launch would be great because more people could go fishing," Katra added.
Yudichak promises the $1 million the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources plans to pump into the park will help turn it back into what he calls a "crown jewel of Northeastern PA."
