ANDERSON – Of the approximately 400 people who visited the “Imagine Mounds Lake” display at the Mounds Mall on Tuesday, the vast majority were supportive of the project.
The display that opened on Tuesday will be at the Mounds Mall until Friday where a scan of comment cards found most supporting the effort.
Mounds Lake Reservoir, which would cost an estimated $350 million to $450 million to create, would stretch approximately from East Lynn Street in Anderson east by northeast around Chesterfield and Daleville into Delaware County, ending just north of Delaware County Road 300 South. It would create a 2,100-acre lake and is not expected to be completed until 2021 pending state and federal approval.
People commenting at random at the Mounds Mall were supportive of the effort as a way to revitalize the Anderson area.
“It can’t happen fast enough,” Gerald Logan said. “I was born and raised here. Unfortunately it has been a dying community for awhile. Manufacturing jobs aren’t coming back and it’s time to look at other alternatives. This looks like one of the most promising alternatives I’ve seen in a while.”
Logan said he would make use of the reservoir for boating and fishing.
He expressed no concerns about the proposal.
“Spending money to bring back a thriving community would be worth it,” Logan said.
Tim Clensy, of the 2400 block of Mounds Road, said he is supportive of the project.
“I like the idea of having a reservoir right behind my house,” he said. “I think Anderson needs something different than what it has currently.”
Clensy said he has been keeping up on the various maps and developments in the newspaper, but learned more about the time of the project.
“I think it’s going to be exciting,” Angela Dowden said. “I’m excited about the opportunities to boat, fish, hike the trails with the kids.”
She is concerned about the environmental impact and the cost of the project.
“I think it will be good for the town in the long run, the town is in need of sprucing up,” Dowden said. “I think it will bring economic development, people have a place where people can come and enjoy water sports will be a draw for the town.”
She has family members who live in the area of 29th Street and Columbus Avenue who are a little more cautious about the proposal and the potential of increased traffic.
Bethany Wire said if the reservoir is constructed she will move out of Anderson.
“You can’t control water, water controls us,” she said. “I’m not opposed but a couple of things could be changed.”
Wire would like to see the height of the dam lowered, creating a smaller reservoir area.
Alexandria resident Diane Hamm said the reservoir would be a nice addition to the area.
“We hope it brings economic development. If nothing else it would be a source of water for people,” she said.
Hamm said she would probably use the reservoir for recreational purposes and expressed no concerns with the proposal.
“I’m glad to see something coming to Anderson that will hopefully help it,” she said. “Every time I come here I see more places deserted. It would be nice to see it come alive again.”