A carousel of complaints

My wife and I went up to Forest Park on Sunday, May 27, to see the newly opened carousel, only to find a few problems with it.

First, there are no signs for it on any of the roads leading to Forest Park, except for a tiny sign on Woodhaven Boulevard as you turn off it. Any one driving past cannot see this sign and would not know that the carousel is located there. My wife asked the fellow at the ticket booth why there was not a larger sign at the boulevard, and he stated that they did not have a permit for such a sign! Why not?

Second, we were standing with a group of people waiting to purchase tickets for the ride. The fellow at the booth said that the ride was not running right now and he did not know how soon it would be. I guess the other fellow there, who was sweeping the carousel floor with a broom and doing it very slowly, was the cause.

Third, the concession stand was not open and we were informed that it would not be open until July.

There must have been 40 or 50 men, women and children, watching a clown show next to the concession stand, who probably would have bought something to eat or drink there. I know that the wife and I had hoped to buy a frank or two and something to drink while we were there.

Fourth, there are no benches and tables to sit at while at the carousel. Do they expect people to stand there while they eat and drink (when the stand opens) and watch the ride? In the past, we use to go there and hang out with our friends and enjoy the afternoon or evening while partaking of the food and drinks at the concession stand.

The big question is why, after all the publicity and hoopla about the opening of the carousel, from all of the local politicians, who like to see their names and faces in the local papers, do these problems exist? Where was the oversight from the local community boards? The answer will probably come back that it is the concessionaire’s problem and responsibility. I do not think so!

This is surely not a good start for the carousel. How does the city expect to bring people to the park and the ride, if they do not know where it is and there is nothing there for them when they get there?

I hope to see some improvement soon.