An indoor water park, a hotel and bigger and faster roller coasters are on the wish list of Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.

But two issues ultimately may determine how much of the "wish list" becomes a reality.

John Beale, Post-Gazette Among the property Kennywood has purchased for future expansion is this 23-acre parcel on the eastern side of the park behind the Racer. The site was formerly owned by Union Railroad, which still has a vacant repair shop there. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Graphic: Kennywood expansion plans Indoor water parks making a big splash Previous coverage Kennywood acquiring properties for future expansion (7/6/05)

One centers on finding ways to reduce or eliminate the amount of amusement tax that Kennywood pays to West Mifflin, which park officials estimate is more than 10 percent of the borough's annual budget.

"We want a level playing field," Pete McAneny, president of Kennywood Entertainment, said at a news conference yesterday.

The other issue is the unbuilt northern stretch of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, a toll road that includes plans for an interchange that could bring motorists from neighboring states to Kennywood's doorstep.

"The freeway is critical to us," said McAneny, citing it as the only way to eliminate the biggest obstacle to the park's expansion -- "You can't get here from there."

Plans filed at the Mon-Fayette Expressway project office in Duquesne call for Commonwealth Avenue to be extended and a new freeway interchange to be built at the border of West Mifflin and Duquesne.

"It could be as close as 600 yards from our parking lot," McAneny told reporters.

Yesterday, officials announced that Kennywood Entertainment is spending $2.6 million to buy about 48 acres in Duquesne that will increase the 92-acre park to about 140 acres. About 35 acres of the current park is used for rides and amusements; the rest is for parking and maintenance facilities.

About half of the new property is an L-shaped 23-acre parcel of brownfields that plunges into a ravine on the eastern side of the park, behind the Racer. The property was formerly owned by Union Railroad, which still has a vacant railroad repair shop at the base of the ravine.

"It will be a challenge to develop," said McAneny, as he accompanied reporters on a trolley tour to view the site.

The second parcel, approximately 25 acres, is the old Duquesne Shopping Center on Hoffman Boulevard in Duquesne, close to the park.

The Kmart is closed, but several stores, including Pat Catan's Craft Center, still operate there. Kennywood officials say they have no plans to evict those tenants because plans for the site are years away.

McAneny said Cincinnati architect Bruce D. Robinson, who designed Lost Kennywood, has been hired to develop creative ideas for the new land. Through the years, the park also has been purchasing residential property on nearby streets.

Kennywood officials released what they called their "blue sky" wish list, which includes not only a water park and hotel, but additional parking, new food outlets and better access to the park.

"We are anxious to get started and expand our marketing to Ohio and West Virginia," McAneny said.

As part of that effort, Kennywood released an economic study by Tripp Umbach & Associates Inc., showing that Kennywood Entertainment's net economic impact on the state is greater than that of the Pirates, the Steelers or Penn State University's campuses in Western Pennsylvania.

Paul Umbach, president of Tripp Umbach, said that's because Kennywood is open more days than the sporting teams and employs more people.

The amusement tax is a big issue, not just for Kennywood, but for other amusement parks around the state.

In December, McAneny asked West Mifflin council to reduce the tax, which was increased in December 2003 from a flat 50-cent fee for each ticket sold to 5 percent.

In this year's West Mifflin budget, Kennywood's taxes make up $1.4 million of the $11.7 million in anticipated revenues.

Kennywood's argument is that the tax was put in place to compensate municipalities for the extra cost of trash, police and maintenance, but Kennywood hasn't used borough services for years.

West Mifflin Councilman Richard Olasz, who voted against the borough's budget, said the park is getting shortchanged by the borough.

"This council and borough manager view them as a golden goose," Olasz said yesterday.

Kennywood and other amusement parks across the state have been trying to get the state Legislature to rescind the right of local municipalities to impose the tax.

Rep. Dennis Leh, R-Berks, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said the latest effort to rescind the amusement tax was scuttled last week, after the amusement parks couldn't come to an agreement.

"They will have to start over in the fall," he said.

Kennywood officials spent most of yesterday's news conference promoting the need to complete the Mon-Fayette Expressway. When completed, the 70-mile limited access highway will link Pittsburgh to Interstate 68 in West Virginia, and to other freeway systems around the region.

Kennywood is most interested in the northern portion, the 24-mile stretch from Jefferson Hills to East Pittsburgh, with branches going to Oakland and Monroeville. When it is built, their park will be far easier to reach. Right now, Kennywood still posts little yellow directional signs to guide motorists.

As part of the event, public officials, including county Chief Executive Dan Onorato, spoke in favor of the highway, which he predicted will help revitalize communities along the Monongahela River.