Room for improvement

The area known as Rye Beach in Huron has a rich history. In the early years of the 20th century, it was a prestigious vacation destination. On the shores of Lake Erie, it provided a bathing beach, a picnic park, a popular dance hall and summer cottages, all accessible by public transportation.The area has gone through alternate eras of blight and improvement. Many of the original cottages remain as year-round homes, and new construction has updated the residential aspect of the area.One of the most visible areas of the Rye Beach neighborhood has not kept up with consistent improvements. Oster's Trailer Park has been considered a blighted area for decades.In an effort to upgrade the living standards of the park's residents and improve the western entrance to the city, Huron officials are determined to see that the property's owner, Bob Day, makes necessary changes. Aside from the visual impact of neglected trailers, safety issues plague the park.Keeping in mind it is home to a number of people, the city of Huron would be well-advised to follow through on a cleanup campaign and, if necessary, eventually eliminate the park. Past history indicates it's not likely to get better without intervention.Doug Green, city engineer and zoning inspector, left, walks with Shawn Bickley, business owner, around the trailer park in Huron on Friday.