SOUTHINGTON - The expansion plans for a larger water park at Lake Compounce have been stalled for several years while state and local officials have tried to secure funding to re-locate Mt. Vernon Road.

Now, Town Council member John Barry has announced his support for closing a portion of Mt. Vernon Road to allow the amusement park to expand east onto land it owns across the road.

"I know if would be controversial," Barry said, "because it connects to Bristol, but we should look at it," he told the council this week.

Town Council Chairman Edward Pocock III said the idea was something at least to explore.