WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita teenager has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to renovate the city’s long-closed amusement park.
The Wichita Eagle reports that 18-year-old Alex East’s project to restore the Joyland amusement park has raised about $6,000 from public donations. But that’s a fraction of the $10 million East estimates will be needed to buy and renovate the 40-acre park.
His organization, Restore Hope Inc., recently got a boost when it was granted nonprofit status, which will allow it to apply for grants and accept tax-deductible contributions.
Joyland owner Margaret Spear ran the park for decades with her husband but closed it permanently in 2006.
The city’s future role in the project if any remains unknown. But the city council turned down his request for $10 million last year.
