By WARREN DILLAWAY - Staff Writer
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — A blue river flowed through Lake Shore Park early Saturday morning as thunderstorms pounded northeastern Ohio.
The excess water caused the cancellation of the Longest Day of Play but didn’t damage the park, said Mike Wayman chairman of the park board.
The community wide event, designed to give children and families a variety of opportunities to have fun on the longest day of the year, will hopefully be re-scheduled organizers said.
The blue-green water was the result of a chemical used in the duck ponds to reduce algae, Wayman said. He said it is not dangerous to animals, birds or people.
Runners began showing up for a road race around 8:30 a.m. to find the western lower gate closed and cones protecting the eastern lower parking lot.
The entire lower access road was flooded and water was pouring toward the park’s boat ramp.
Organizers for the Longest Day of Play decided to cancel the event because of the flooding and will attempt to re-schedule, said Debbie Ailiff, health educator with the Ashtabula County Health Department and president of the Longest Day of Play and Family Affair event.
“We had 30 different vendors coming to set up,” Ailiff said.
She said they still have to pay for some of the vendors but hope to have the event at a later date.
Area storm damage was limited to flooding in low lying areas and several downed power lines throughout the county.
