PW NOV08 P22.qxd:PW NOV08 P22.qxd 3/11/08 13:05 Page 22
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
NYC invests
in Coney Island
Tube Coaster debuts
Described as a mix between a
bobsled run and a
Wonder Wheel Park preserved
rollercoaster, the first Tube
Coaster from ABC Rides
New York City has purchased an acre of Wonder Wheel Park from recently opened at Trampolino,
Ward Realty Corp for $11 million as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s Andernach, Germany.
plan to preserve the historic character of Coney Island.
Each bobsled carries up to
Last year Thor Equities was said to have a contract to buy
two adults or three children, sat
the land for the same price, but that deal fell through about
inline behind one another, and
three months ago. Deno’s Wonder Wheel
children as young as four can
Park, the current tenant, has a lease on the
ride. Riders travel up and down
property through until 2020.
a steel track at up to 40km/h.
The deal is the first of what New York
As passengers embark from
City Economic Development
Corporation (NYCEDC) expects to be
an elevated loading area, they
a series of land acquisitions in the
do not travel up a lift hill at the
coming months as the City proceeds
beginning of the ride. Rather,
with its vision to create a “21st Century
the bobsleds enter a block brake Park owner Wolfgang Wingender with the
entertainment destination” and
section at the end of the ride
new ride
protect Coney Island’s
and a lift returns them to the start empty, ready for the next set of riders.
amusement legacy.
ABC’s director of sales and marketing, Alberto Brandestini praises
The site acquired is located
Trampolino owner Wolfgang Wingender for his foresight in adding such an
within the nine-acre area the
attraction: “It is customers like Mr Wingender who are very important to ride
City has designated to be
manufacturers, as they are willing and eager to co-operate in new projects,
mapped as parkland. Under a knowing that there is a certain risk. ABC would like to thank Mr Wingender for
comprehensive re-zoning plan, his trust in us.”
the land will establish a base for developing new year-round indoor and outdoor
amusement uses. The purchase will bring the total amount of City-owned
property within the footprint to about four acres.
“This important deal brings us one step closer to our twin goals of
maintaining what is best about Coney Island, while simultaneously building a
vibrant, modern mixed-use community,” says Seth W Pinsky, NYCEDC
president.
"We are delighted with the news,” adds Dennis D Vourderis, vice-president of
Deno's Wonder Wheel Park. "We have not sold the Wonder Wheel, nor the rides
on the land around it. The City is our landlord on a portion of the operation.
This is a welcome change that will serve the people of New York well.”
NYCEDC continues to engage in active negotiations with the remaining
landowners to consolidate the rest of the nine-acre site. Upon completion of the
public approval process, there will be a total of 12-acres of parkland to be
devoted to amusement uses in Coney Island, including the city-owned Cyclone
rollercoaster and Steeplechase Park, which are already mapped as parkland.
The City also intends to re-develop the surrounding neighbourhood by bringing
much needed infrastructure improvements, creating affordable housing and
encouarging jobs and opportunities for local residents. The project will provide
over 20,000 construction jobs and thousands more permanent roles.
22 NOVEMBER 2008
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