The parking lot at Bellaboos Play and Discovery Center in Lake Station was still filled with water Friday, two days after heavy rains inundated the region.
Bellaboos, at 2800 Colorado St., sits at the confluence of the Little Calumet and Deep rivers and Burns Ditch, near Interstate 80/94. The area is also home to the 50-acre Three Rivers County Park, which also remained closed and swamped by water.
Lake Station Mayor Christopher Anderson said Friday that they’ve now identified 65 homes damaged by the flood. He also said a meeting has been called for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 1969 Central Ave., to pass along information to residents.
Chris Landgrave, chief operating officer for the Lake County Parks Department, said Bellaboos might reopen by Sunday. He said the building has remained dry.
Meanwhile, employees have been busy contacting patrons and canceling birthday parties at the popular children’s destination because of the flooding.
Landgrave said the flooding wasn’t as bad as the September 2008 flood when water reached Bellaboos’ front door.
“I think this time around it was the fact we had a decent amount of rain, and the ground was frozen and snow melted off. None of it had anywhere to go.” He said he thinks the area took in nearly 5 inches of rain.
The water began receding Thursday, said Bianca Chavez, of Valparaiso, who along with her husband, Daniel, rescued their three horses and pony Wednesday night. She said they keep the horses in a barn owned by a friend along Colorado Street.
“The water was up to my knees,” she said. “The horses were scared because it was dark.”
There are about five barns containing farm animals east of Colorado Street.
Nearby, Ricardo Arteaga said he can’t get to his house because it’s surrounded by water. “One of my dogs almost drowned in the water yesterday,” he said.
The Lake Station City Council canceled its meeting Thursday so officials could continue to monitor the flooding along Colorado Street, and along Wyoming and Arizona streets just east of Deep River. Mayor Christopher Anderson said areas along Burns Ditch, near 23rd Avenue were also flooded.
The Lake Station Fire Department evacuated dozens of families and the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. cut off gas service to the homes, as a precaution.
Anderson said Deep River reached 19.8 feet. “There are quite a few homes still under water,” he said.
Anderson said Little Calumet River Basin executive director Dan Repay has been out assessing damage along Deep River where the commission plans to build a levee.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
