Belleview Park’s miniature train is about to change ownership with no interruption in operation.

The Englewood City Council discussed the issue at the April 13 study session and asked staff members to move ahead with the process for the city to take over ownership. The train belongs to Englewood Lions Club, but the city should have it up and running in time for the traditional Memorial Day park opening.

The ownership change was initiated by the Englewood Lions in a letter asking the city to buy the train and everything that goes with it for $1.

Leo Kuntz, club president, said the request was made in the best interest of the club, the city and all the adults and children who like to ride the little train.

“Everyone in the club wanted to see the train continue operating but our club just didn’t have the people needed to keep it running,” he said. “The city was the obvious choice to take it over. They have the people to operate and maintain the train plus there has been talk about expanding the depot facilities and perhaps lengthening the circular route, so we see this as a win-win situation for everyone.”

The Englewood Lions miniature train has been a fixture in the city for nearly six decades. Originally, the Lions ran the train around Englewood’s first city park. When the city park was purchased as a site for the Cinderella City shopping mall, part of the purchase price was used to buy the land that became Belleview Park and the Lions moved the train to that park.

Traditionally, the train is in operation from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It has always been a popular attraction, In 2007, about 46,000 children and adults took the train ride that circles Belleview Park and includes rolling across a trestle and through a tunnel. Last year, because of weather and some maintenance problems, the ridership dropped to about 42,000.

While the train proved to be provide funds for Lions Club projects, the new ownership became necessary with the Englewood Lions Club decided it could no longer maintain or operate the train.

The issue was discussed at the April 13 study session.

Jerrell Black, parks and recreation director, said all the equipment is in good shape. The train’s engine was rebuilt two years ago and a lot of work was done on the track and the trestle so it won’t be hard to get the train ready to go for the season.

Plans are to provide training so parks personnel can operate and do routine maintenance on the train so it can follow the traditional schedule of operating Tuesdays through Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The 1-mile circular route carries riders past the softball field, across a trestle and through a tunnel and the entire ride is $1.

Councilmembers unanimously agreed the train is a major asset and attraction at Belleview Park and should continue to run. They also talked briefly about erecting a marker acknowledging the Englewood Lions Club for its years of train operation and its decision to provide the train to the city.

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