Fun Forest manager Beth McNelly looked awfully lonely manning the booth at last night's sham hearing.
Lost in the debate over how best to use the remaining two acres of Seattle Center’s Fun Forest is the fact that the site is already home to a popular, rent-paying, job-producing attraction: the, um, Fun Forest.
Yeah sure, I know the hipsters and aging hipsters and yuppies and cultural elitists who dominated last night’s hearing all look down their nose at kitchy amusements and carnival rides, but since the opening days of the 1962 World’s Fair, the Fun Forest has been as much a part of the Seattle Center as the Space Needle that looms above it. And the family owned business that runs it is in no rush leave; they’d love to secure a long term lease, but they’re happy to operate on a year-to-year basis if that’s what works best for the city.
Much was made last night by Chihuly proponents about how their proposal is the only one that won’t require a public subsidy, but even in its reduced footprint, the Fun Forest is already producing about $250,000 a year in rent, taxes and concession fees, while employing 30 people in season. So honestly, what’s the rush?
I know the Fun Forest doesn’t fit into the Master Plan that calls for its removal, but neither does a paid-admission, for-profit glass gallery/gift shop/catering hall. And since it’s already producing revenues while providing residents and tourists a much needed family-friendly amenity, what’s the harm in leaving it in place for another year while we get to have a real public debate about the best use for the site? I mean, it’s not like it’s a vacant lot gathering abandoned cars or homeless encampments. It’s the Fun Forest for chrisakes. Kids love it!
I’m told the Wright family is a bit insulted by the city’s failure to embrace their proposal, and have threatened to pull out if a deal isn’t signed soon. But surely, if Ye Olde Chihuly Shoppe makes such good business sense to them now, it would still make good business sense a year from now, so it’s hard to take such hardball tactics seriously… especially when the guaranteed revenue from their paid admission “museum” isn’t all that much higher than what is already being generated by an attraction that has catered to Seattle families for two generations.
Yeah, I know… it’s hard to take something seriously when it has the word “Fun” in its title. But for all the arguments for and against the Chihuly proposal, I’ve never heard anybody attempt to explain what is so godawful about the status quo.
Edit:
The 1964 (and 1965) World’s Fair was in the Borough of Queens, New York City.
I almost don’t care anymore. Regardless of what happens to this tiny section of land, what about the MUCH MUCH bigger development? Tearing out the ratty stadium and building a ‘great lawn’ which can handle outdoor concerts and give some needed elbow room. Plus the redo of the Center House is incredible…have you seen the idea of that? Rooftop deck/restaurant, glass ceiling, truly a unique and cool building you’d actually WANT to be in.
Goldy–
This “Seattle Elitists” you are bitching about looking down their schnoz’s at you are “Progressives” and Democrat Party supporters. Look a few of them up Goldy.
I’m with you on this one though.
It takes a real a$$hole to try to kill the f—ing Fun Forest!
Long live the Fun Forest.
Chihuly can kiss or fun-loving asses!
I’m all for throwing out the old and bringing in the new, but Chihuly ‘aint new, is over rated and over represented, and his gift shoppe is nothing but corporate welfare.
@3
You have a problem with sticking it to elitist Seattle progressives?
*****************************
I’d like to Seattle to be more like the Seattle of Charlie Royer and Norm Rice then the Seattle of Seattle of mayor Nickels. Goldy’s Kick Ass Playground idea has Charlie Royer written all over it.
Goldy, have you tried to get in touch with Royer about your playground idea?
Three words — kickass skate park
i have posted before in other threads on this story that i find it sad the city feels the need to rid itself of family friendly fun.
i have no children and really don’t like them in public but what child would not enjoy the fun forest???
and it would seem that if the child enjoys it then the parents would too.
though my family and i have chose not to have children does not mean we do not know how important it is to have places to take them for both fun and education.
this really does lead to the idiocracy of america.
dupe post??
Great post Goldy. I agree 100%. Thank you.
I’ve posted this before but…
As a California youth visiting my grandparents in Renton for 2-3 weeks every Summer, the Fun Forrest was usually the highlight of the trip. By the time MTV hit the air (Renton had it before the North Bay Area) I was bored with the fun forrest. I was too old.
But the joy in my kids eyes when I win the carnival games and they get a bit of stuffed crap along with a ride reminds me why I love the place.
Pretty much no matter what they decide to do with the site, a major pre-teen (and family) attraction for the center is gone. You can still drop a fair amount of coin on the children’s museum or the Science Center but the really cheap splash in the fountain followed by some ski-ball and a kiddie ride can’t be replaced. Besides, during those few months when families want to be outside as much as humanly possible, the Children’s museum and Science Center aren’t attractions so much as air conditioned buildings.
It can’t be replaced by Chihuly (hey kids! Let’s go see the glass!) not by KEXP (Hey Kids, let’s go see a mopey indy band!) or an Indian cultural center.
N @1,
At least I got the apostrophe right.
Like there is a shortage of Chihuly venues? Chihuli is as common as a Verizon cell phone…
@2
great, yet another seattle liberal who doesnt give a fuck about the fact that the stadium is a war memorial.
of course you would probably go ape shit if it was an AIDS memorial getting ready to be torn down.
I got your fucking “eblow room” right here ><.
You dumbshit. Memorial Stadium belongs to the Seattle School District.
@14
hey dumbshit, I already know that.
perhaps you should investigate the master plan for developing that area, and how it involves the seattle center in general.
fuckhead, dont chime in unless you know what the fuck you are talking about.
Daddy @6
There’s already a skate park at the Center. I’m too old to know if it’s kickass or not.
a skate park…great, so people who are 12-14 years old will have something to do….what about everyone else?
I’m glad they are insulted! How can we make them even more insulted so they do withdraw their proposal?
@13 Yes, it is a war memorial, but as a functional stadium it is terribly antiquated. The simple solution is to build a new memorial to honor the sacrifices of the greatest generation, while modernizing the site and making it usable for the next generation and beyond.
@19
I have no argument with that. However, I think a new memorial should be completed before there is any talk of destroying the old one.
@20
Isn’t the “Memorial” part mostly the East wall of the stadium facing the parking lot? There is no reason that can’t be part of the new amphitheater design.
That or they can handle it like they handled the memorial wall at the Public Safety building (which was originally in a traffic circle outside of the Olympic hotel entrance) with a much nicer and more accessible memorial along the West side of Benaroya Hall.
21–
Chris–
Actually, if the powers that be insist the HISTORIC Memorial Stadium be torn down, the very least they can do is as you suggest.
I remember going to lots of Athletic events there….right in the middle of the City.
Where is the $$ coming from for the Amphitheatre? More ObaMao stimulous money…aka increase the National Debt beyond the current $13.2 TRILLION with over $110 TRILLION of unfunded liabilities???
I’m just askin’
Is there a realistic business plan…or is this just another Seattle dream that will force even more tax increases?
Let’s face it I was born in Seattle of ’62, and over the many years I have watched seattle rise and now die.
The Fun forest is gone, and anyting else that kids used to find amusing, that could be passed down from generation to generation, is now gone or dying.
IE:
The Woodland park zoo – dying
The Seattle Center – dead
Volunteer park – dying
Museum of History and industry – dying
U-dist “The Ave.” – dying – gang ridden
Seattle Waterfront – dying – not due to the fucking via-dicked- seattle will pay for in the end – cost over fucking run!
Alki Beach – dying – gang ridden
Mathews beach – dying
Seattle radio – any stations – dead or dying
Just to name a few these were fun things, now dying, I know why!
I wont say because certain communities around seattle are moving in wanting to duplicate them selfs and making things BORING as hell!
I say get out let Seattle live once more, let down it’s hair and get crazy!
But no….. oh god no let’s make seattle un-friendly for kids and adults.
Let’s just bury Seattle and let it die in peace, or better still put up a fence around it ans charge admission to see “The City that was…”
Go ahead get mad at my comments, I tell it like it is, I tell the truth!
If you cant handle the truth then FUCK YOU!
You
Eventually you will see the light.
Will the last one to leave Seattle please turn out the lights, thank you :-)
Lets stop this whats on first run down of the
Fun Forest site.
The Space Needle / Wright family could care less about Chihuly what they want is the Catering Hall to put on banquets.
Do you need a place for a wedding reseption?
As a friend said, can you see a seven year old saying to his dad, “Lets go down and see Chihuly’s glass”
This nothing but a land grab by the Wright family.