Organizers of a fund-raising effort to save the 110-year old Arnolds Parkare celebrating after hitting their goal over the weekend. Supporters neededto raise five-point-five million dollars to keep the amusement park frombeing razed and replaced with condominiums. The Iowa Great Lakes MaritimeMuseum now will own Arnolds Park. Museum Director. Steve Kennedy says thegroup had already raised six-million dollars and Governor Vilsack addedone-and-a-quarter million dollars in state investment money. This statemoney comes from the newly created Community Attraction & TourismDevelopment program and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ StateMarine Fuel Tax program. It’s designed to help communities developattractions and tourism facilities. Kennedy says donations are still rollingin.Kennedy says supporters didn’t want the park to fade away into memory likeso many others.Developer Don Dunham had given supporters until Sunday to raise the money orhe planned to build condos in the area.
