WHEELING -- The United States Army Corp of Engineers has till Feb. 1 to comment on an Ohio County permit towards the construction of a theme park at the Highlands.

Ohio County Administrator Greg Stewart said the proposed construction will span about 175 acres.

Roughly 1,000 feet of stream bed will be affected in the building of the theme park.

Stewart said the stream is very low with no quality habitat and that Ohio County is addressing the issue.

“I think we’ve satisfied the mitigation requirement to replace or better the water quality in the area,” said Stewart.

If the county proposal is not approved, it’s unknown when groundbreaking will take place.

If the permit is approved, Stewart said the county will have to look further at designs and there could be a possible groundbreaking in spring or summer.