Officials say the historic Forest Park Carousel will get a new operator this spring and be open for the first time since 2008. Forum Newsgroup Photo by Luis Gronda.
Forest Park Carousel finally has some good news coming. The historic attraction is set to reopen this spring.
Officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation said they have an operator ready and are finalizing a deal to announce in March.
The historic carousel hasn’t spun for the public since 2008 when the last operator left.
After much spurring from the community and five rounds of bidding, neighbors are excited about the progress.
“We’re just extremely happy that there’s positive news to report that finally after this long period of time there’s going to be a resolution,” said Ed Wendell, an outspoken advocate of the carousel who also heads the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association. “It’s going to take this from our pile of problems and put it in our pile of assets.”
In January, Parks led about half a dozen prospective bidders on a tour of Forest Park and the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park carousels. Parks planned to bundle the two together for a 15-year operating contract.
Valerio Ferrari, president of the company that runs Luna Park at Coney Island, attended that tour.
Sources close to the process said his company, Central Amusement International LLC, is a frontrunner to win the contract.
During the tour, Parks officials offered the chance to install extra attractions down the hill from the carousel.
In addition to the concessions stand and historic ride, they could install and operate kiddy rides, making Forest Park more of a destination.
“That’s exactly what that area needs,” Wendell said. He was also excited to hear Parks ask that proposals include an outline of how to work with community groups like the Block Association.
Forest Park Carousel is one of only five carousels operating in New York City. It is the only one with figures carved by the deceased master wood carver Daniel Carl Muller.
The original Forest Park Carousel opened in 1903, but it burned down in 1966 before being replaced with the Muller creation that remains there today.
Wendell remembers tromping through the park with his father after the ride burned down and riding the replacement horses as a child.
Decades later and after two years of pushing, he and other activists are happy to see some progress.
“We’re excited over the possibility,” he said.
But despite the preliminary announcement, Wendell will be satisfied when he sees ink on paper.
“I want to hear that there is a 15-year lease,” he said. “I want to know that thing is in good hands.”
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
