Blue Streak - Conneaut Lake Park

To get $250,000 for the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, it took a huge community-wide effort fueled by enthusiastic support by Erie’s traditional and new media.

After a two-month break from voting, it looks like the area is ready to get behind another “idea” for the Pepsi Refresh project: the relaunching of the classic Blue Streak roller coaster at Conneaut Lake Park in Crawford County. The trustees of the park have entered the coaster, built in 1938,  in the competition for a $50,000 award this month, with the goals of:

•Raise funds to proceed with restoration
•Replace timbers, realign track, restore trains
•Reopen coaster
•Support local economy by attracting more visitors to the area.

As of this writing on Tuesday evening, their efforts have placed the drive in 19th place, with the top 10 get $50k each. Stories aired again tonight on WICU & WSEE, and reports on the voting have appeared on WJET/WFXP, in the Erie Times-News, and on All Things Erie on WQLN-FM, in addition to the jock chatter on the radio waves, and the blog mentions. If the Kanzius case study is any indication, a flurry of media activity in support of the social media engagement could help the Conneaut Lake Park cause quickly move up in the rankers.

Couple additional thoughts: I wouldn’t expect the kind of trash talk and controversy that was encountered in April by the Kanzius supporters, as the stakes were much higher with $250,000 going to only two victors. If CLP can make it into the top 10, there’s still nine others that will see cash.

If successful, CLP will need to prove itself worthy of public support by moving quickly to put the other gears in motion for getting the Blue Streak rehabilitated and online.

Finally, this is a good opportunity to express appreciation for the other local amusement park; one that hasn’t been in financial turmoil for decades, with its owners operating a community treasure with diligence and respect for the patrons it serves: Waldameer Park. It’s a testimony to the Nelson family who have made the investments needed to keep the dream alive, even to the point of delivering on the decades-old promise of a world-class coaster in Erie, The Ravine Flyer II. The community’s efforts to encourage our friends to the south do not negate the gratitude we feel for what Waldameer means to Erie, our economy, and our families.

To vote for the Blue Streak in the July Pepsi Refresh Project, go to refresheverything.com/conneautlakeparkbluestreak