If you've been on the East side of Youngstown lately, you may have noticed something different about McKelvey Lake.

The lake is about six feet lower than normal and in some areas, there is barely any water.

The water is shallow because the company managing the lake, Aqua Ohio, is modernizing the dam and spillway. The work being done was part of the company's agreement with the city of Youngstown to complete necessary repairs, now that the city is acquiring the property.

In order to make changes, they needed to lower the water.

Councilman Mike Ray said this is the early stage of getting the lake prepped, with plans to turn the lake into a recreational area.

"There's great promise for the residents of the city of Youngstown to have this asset as part of the portfolio of parks for the city," Ray said, "and really something that is so close by that we'll be able to do so much with."

Ideas include adding hiking, biking, boating and more.

"Trails, pavilions, things you would typically see in a park," he said. 

Ray said a timeline for recreational plans and the funding for it are not set in stone, but the improvements to the dam are expected to be finished this fall.

"Once those dam repairs are made, and the city's able to do those improvements, I would think the funding would be the biggest restriction," he said, "but just keeping it as a preserve and having it as a city asset, I think, is a huge value."

21 News reported in February that the city was applying for a $10-million dollar grant to fund this project, but the city administration has not responded as to where that application stands.