Wichita Teen Hopes to Revamp Amusement Park

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.