PG40-41 Q Lines Final 3/27/07 10:10 AM Page 41
Park People
www.parkworld-online.com
Another very important thing was to do a zoning of the site. It’s a very
old site with a sort of city zoning and we have converted it to a leisure site
zoning. It’s totally new and forward thinking, and very flexible. There is a
River Splash signals
brand new information leaflet now, but when you have 300 attractions it is
very tough! Normally when you do a park map you do not care so much new Prater era
if this or that in every corner is included, you just make nice drawing and
include the main attractions, but at the Prater every 100 square metres is
owned by someone different and they all wanted to be on there of course.
How have you improved access?
In 2008 there will be a new underground station, but there was also not
enough parking. In Vienna, they try to do everything to take cars of the
city, but we have defined an area just for parking at the Prater.
At the same time, a good thing we have done is to put the cars out of
the Prater itself. Before it was somewhere you could drive at different
times, but now we have closed the park to cars and finally the children
can walk without through the avenues having to encounter vehicles.
What cosmetic improvements will visitors notice on site?
There is now a new entrance on the east side and next year the main
entrance will be redone, which is long overdue. We are also going to
change the overall theme and go back to the Austrian era of the
1900s.
There are new walkways, green areas, lighting and information booths. One of the most tangible signs of improvement since the
We have improved some of the catering too. We have a new bakery masterplan was delivered at the Prater in Vienna will be Kern-
selling croissants, because many people do not realise the croissant Waldmann’s new River Splash ride, which debuts this Spring.
actually originates from Vienna! The attraction, which is being constructed by ABC Rides of
Switzerland, features a level of theming previously unseen at the
How co-operative have the different operators been? Prater. Yet true to form at this famous city park, it is to
The operators can either the do their own thing, and that is their accommodated it in a very tight space, previously occupied by a
problem, or they can play along, invest and gain. This year one of the Top Spin-type ride. In fact, the only way it will fit it is to locate
major operators is investing in a brand new water ride – with theming, part of the ride over the top of an Auto Skooter track and a fast
which is also new. At the end of the day it is the visitor that will decide food outlet.
who is successful. Alfred Kern and Gerhard Waldmann, attractions operators at
Prater for five generations, decided to team up and offer
One of the problems previously was that there was that something new and different to Prater guests. The River Splash
there was nothing to stop duplication of attractions. Do you concept caught their eye at the 2005 Euro Attractions Show,
now have more control over how people use their land? which was held in Vienna itself, close to the Prater.
You’re right. We can’t tell people to leave with what they already have, Following three earlier River Splash installations in Germany,
but now that the city has a presence on site we can manage the arrival of this latest ride will be the largest yet, measuring 30 metres in
new attractions so that they are different. The city has already taken some height before decoration. It will take as its theme the rugged
parcels of land back, either because the operators didn’t pay, or they mountains and mines of the Wildalpen, where the city of Vienna
have sold up. sources its water supply. ABC will provide the scenic elements as
Something operators can now do is to go over from one parcel to the well as the ride system.
other. The site is 20 hectares, and there’s much too much packed in The ride is due to go into service around Easter. Despite snow
there. Before operators thought only about square metres, but now things slowing construction, the earthworks and foundations were
will also be judged on their level of attractiveness. We are trying to completed last October, the columns and channels were delivered
present to people the idea they can reduce the number of attractions and in December, and the mountain completed more recently.
still increase the per cap guest spending. It forces different operators to ‘Widalpenbahn’ will use 9-seater circular raft-style boats,
co-operate together. although this is a faster-paced attraction than a typical rapids ride.
Passengers will begin their journey with a brisk ascent to the top of
Will there be a relaunch? the ride’s signature rotating vertical lift tower. They will then dash
No, the intention was not close the park, re-theme it and do a complete around the spiral channels, in and out of curves and through
relaunch. Some people thought that after three years it would be brand various tunnels and waterfalls, spinning as they go.
new, but anyone who knows the Prater knows it will be more like 20 Kern-Waldmann are also planning a number of interactive
years. So the project has been reborn, but because it is born it is starting elements between riders and spectators.
again and has to grow. The strategy is more to get something ongoing,
year on year, rather than have one year a big launch and then nothing.
We call is the Prater Renaissance.
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