Group wants Theme Park Downtown

[Captain Zissou]

One thing to consider....

(Noone, you might want to sit down for this) The REI headquarters in downtown Denver has their kayak testing facility in and around the river that passes right through DT.  The have even put artificial rapids in a couple places to make it more exciting.  Their river is somewhere between the width at the courthouse and Hogan's Creek.  I don't mean we need to copy this exactly, but it's not a bad idea.  An outfitter with a hand launch at the intersection of Hogan's and The St Johns.

If you want to look into the REI headquarters, it is an amazing re-use of an old factory.  5 floors staggered inside to make dozens of different areas.  It's one of the coolest stores I've ever seen.

[copperfiend]

Autoworld was the first thought that popped into my mind after reading the article.

[fsujax]

The waterpark at Met Park will no longer be there once the redesign is complete. Not too sure about this plan, I thought they were going to focus on Laura St? and not spread things out.

[CG7]

I just disagree that this would not work.I was in downtown Saturday and Sunday,. There were alot of people at the Landing with kids who looked bored and had a I wish there was a roller coaster around look on there faces. Also I just printed the story from the Biz Journal link, and took it into the plant and showed the concept to the machine operators and forklift drivers, etc, and every man and woman said it was something they would go too. Sorry but from work that is the best survey I could do. I know I along with many other people in town and out of town would go. Also look and PARC's website (the company interested in doing this) they seem to know what they are doing.

[thelakelander]

We have a couple issues going here.

There were alot of people at the Landing with kids who looked bored and had a I wish there was a roller coaster around look on there faces.

I have two boys, ages 9 & 7.  One of the funniest things I notice about them is that they have the most fun doing "free" things.  Grab a ball and take them to a park with active recreational amenities and they'll run around all day.  In short, we can and should be developing our urban parks to be active recreational public spaces (ex. playing fields, playgrounds, fountains, etc.).  We can provide these things at an affordable cost without giving away riverfront property for private theme park development.

Also I just printed the story from the Biz Journal link, and took it into the plant and showed the concept to the machine operators and forklift drivers, etc, and every man and woman said it was something they would go too. Sorry but from work that is the best survey I could do. I know I along with many other people in town and out of town would go.

This would be one of the major problems, imo.  Everyone would go.....probably once.  It would be too small to draw in large numbers of out-of-town visitors and not have enough to keep the same locals paying admission prices on a regular basis.  Other than that, if PARC wants to do a theme park in DT (at the moment, this doesn't sound like a real proposal), there's plenty of non-riverfront property in the Sports District to take advantage of.

[CG7]

You don't know what the park would be like so you don't know people wouldn't buy annual passes for this park, or at least come back often. I go to the zoo at least 10 times a year. This would also leave river access to the public, which is a big priority for me. But let me say this is just my opinion, and the people I work with, So I will leave it alone . Peace out!

[peestandingup]

Im seriously LOLing reading this shit. Only the crappiest towns think of this kind of stuff. I was living in Corpus Christi TX when they were trying to do the same thing to their downtown waterfront. Yeah, Corpus Christi. There's a reason no one talks about that place, because its a dump of a city with no vision whatsoever with a bunch of local yokel retards running it. Hmmm. So I guess Jax is just a bigger version of that now is it?? Lucky me! I sure can pick 'em.

So basically they want the old run down Boardwalk Amusement Center that was in Daytona moved to downtown Jax now, complete with go-carts, putt putt, & shady characters all about. Hey, will there be a fun house too?? That was my favorite!!

Sounds like a helluva time, guys. I hope it passes here.  

[duvaldude08]

Great idea. It puts me in the mind of the rides and stuff they used to have at the beach. And if anybodys old enough to remember, the beach stayed packed because of that. I think this is a perfect fit. But find the money and investors is the hard part.

[Ralph W]

We have a couple issues going here.

There were alot of people at the Landing with kids who looked bored and had a I wish there was a roller coaster around look on there faces.

I have two boys, ages 9 & 7.  One of the funniest things I notice about them is that they have the most fun doing "free" things.  Grab a ball and take them to a park with active recreational amenities and they'll run around all day.  In short, we can and should be developing our urban parks to be active recreational public spaces (ex. playing fields, playgrounds, fountains, etc.).  We can provide these things at an affordable cost without giving away riverfront property for private theme park development.

We have very nice ball parks all over this city and NONE of them are open for the average bunch of boys or girls to use for a pick up ball game. Yeah, there are some hoops without nets sprinkled here and there but just try to go beyond the fence to the real ball fields. The only skate board park that I know of is at Ed Austin Park - a little far for most.

Of course, that really doesn't matter. The littlest tykes can't go anywhere without mom and dad or the baby sitter and the older kids have too much inside stuff to be bothered going out for some good exercise. They own the latest in electronic games or their TV's, Ipods or phones but I think you'd be hard pressed to find very many bats, balls or gloves, excepting the ones into organized sports programs.

Good call on the been there done that theme. One trip a year, if that, is good enough for locals heading for an amusement park. If I'm visiting another city I might go to their amusement park to see what it's all about but again, once per location is enough. There's probably a good reason the carnys and fairs only come around once a year.

[thelakelander]

You don't know what the park would be like so you don't know people wouldn't buy annual passes for this park, or at least come back often. I go to the zoo at least 10 times a year. This would also leave river access to the public, which is a big priority for me. But let me say this is just my opinion, and the people I work with, So I will leave it alone . Peace out!

I'll admit that I have had the experience of working on the design of a theme park, much larger than what could fit on the Shipyards site.  Even attended a few theme park conventions while involved with that project.  That failed project was supposed to be called Steamboat City in Brunswick, GA.  Here is a link to a 2004 article about it:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/3443418/detail.html



It was fun to work on but it was a no go when it was time for investors and the bank to put up the money to fund its construction.  Looking back, a few people in the firm (me included) had this very same debate about placing this use on the shipyards site when Trilegacy's plan went up in smoke.  

With all of that said, working on that project, I do know that there aren't a ton of successful miniature theme parks, the majority of them have closed and many of those open now are taking a financial beating.  Nevertheless, rides and theme park survival strategy aside, I do know that a theme park is not the best economic use of downtown's remaining riverfront property.  In addition, if someone wants to put a theme park in downtown, there's tons of non-riverfront surface parking lots we can direct them to.  As for leaving the river accessible to the public, we can do that regardless of use.  All the city has to do is a little visioning and carve out the public property they want.   Anyway, no need to get offended, this is just a good time vetting of the use in discussion.

[dougskiles]

Please do not waste money on a theme park downtown.  Or anywhere in Jacksonville.  Passive recreation areas are what we need.  Put some public art in them and let the kids go wild.  Maybe a few play structures that are public art - but not too many.  Perhaps something like this:

[77danj7]

At least theme parks will charge admission which will limit children's exposure to the homeless that are in our parks.
I love recreation in parks but I don't want my wife taking our children to parks alone because of the homeless.  Fixing up parks will mean nothing if that situation isn't resolved.

[TheProfessor]

I think there is a play structure like the one above at the Huntington Forest Blvd Park in Mandarin.

[Noone]

What a great thread. Where to start. I'll start by saying "Keep the Promised 680'Downtown Public Pier separate from the former Shipyards/Landmar and away from total government control by the JEDC or DIA."

Remember that our Parks Dept has been expanded to now read Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and now to include Conservation.

Remember Shipyards. $36,500,000 taxpayer money gone. 16 acres of Public space. Landmar comes in and the 16 acres of Public space has been reduced to 8 acres and there was 150 slip marina on both projects and not one slip for the public.

So with that said. If the theme park happens and the total control is DIA with an area that will then be only accessible by paying an admission charge. The other part of the puzzle is the convention center that would bring this higher first time customer looking for something to do.

In the meantime I can't wait to hear what Field has in mind with Bay St. Pier Park, I agree with CG7 and taking a kayak from McCoys or Hogans and going with the tide and being able to get out near the base of the pier where the tide is not as strong and having a floating dock that could accommodate a kayaker on either side of the pier. The pier would pay for itself. If the DIA is charging an admission charge lets say $1. The pier would charge $1. But if you arrive by water then its FREE. That's right FREE.

If you arrive by water and you are now standing on the Pier then exit into the DIA theme park then your admission is FREE. If you are at the theme park and now want to go on the Pier it will cost you $1.

So what are the benefits.
More people will Use the River.
Remember a floating dock was used at this pier during Super Bowl XXXIX. Bring it back.
The Pier could open immediately.
Again use containers because we are a port city.
Lake, I also agree with free recreational access. Have the sportsmans container. Imagine an ongoing free throwing contest with a basketball hoop. A game of horse with elimination and ultimately a winner. People will come back to defend their title. shuffleboard on the pier. I can go on and on. But its an organic cluster and the use of a pier with a benefit that will have people traveling from other counties on the water because they know they will be able to get in for free. And if you pay a fare at the RAM and take the River taxi when you get to the pier you will be able to get in for FREE.  
 

[m092034]

Think of this as a mix between Chicago's Navy Pier with the attractions, New York's South Street Seaport with it's upscale shops, and San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf with it's cable car connectivity to downtown and it's ease of access to the water. Yes this would cost a lot of money, but taking certain aspects from each of these successful waterfront developments could benefit this endeavor in the long run