Theme park experts suggest contracting a single operator to manage Coney Island, but there's some push back from city officials who fear a loss of diversity and character.
"Mayor Bloomberg's hand-picked panel of amusement industry experts is urging the city to find a single operator to run a proposed new theme park for Coney Island, a controversial suggestion that would radically change the nature of the People's Playground, once the domain of a multitude of independent carnies and ride owners.
'The time is now to identify and select a single industry operator/developer to oversee the development,' the 'Coney Island Amusement Advisory Panel' said a statement issued yesterday. The 'blue ribbon' commission includes executives from Six Flags, Atlantic City's Steel Pier, and amusement parks in Wildwood, N.J.
Even though the suggestion for a single, Disney-like operator came from Bloomberg's own committee, city officials did not fully embrace the idea."
FULL STORY: Theme park experts urge city to ‘Disney-fy’ Coney

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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