Kiddieland likely to close by 2010

MELROSE PARK, Ill., May 15 (UPI) -- A family squabble may spell the end for a suburban Chicago amusement park that has entertained generations of families.

Kiddieland in Melrose Park, Ill., which opened for its 78th season last month, is the last of what once were several Kiddielands across the country. An attorney for Ronald Rynes and Cathy Norini, who operate the theme park founded by their grandfather Arthur Fritz, says the park will likely close by the end of the decade because the pair's mother and brother, Shirley and Glenn Rynes, are trying to break the lease, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Shirley and Glenn own the land upon which Kiddieland sits, while Ronald and Cathy hold a lease to operate the amusement park.

Shirley and Glenn Rynes say they want to break the lease because fireworks shows violate the contract. They also claim Ronald and Cathy haven't regularly proved they hold insurance for the park, as required in the lease, attorney Robert B. Morton told the newspaper.

A Cook County judge rejected the effort to end the lease. It was upheld by the Appellate Court of Illinois.

Still, said Morton, it's clear the park likely won't be open beyond 2010.