Forest Park Carousel A Step Closer To Reopening

A beloved century-old carousel in Woodhaven's Forest Park has been shuttered since 2008. On Friday the City issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) potential concessionaires to renovate, operate and maintain the historic ride. (Image: NY1 screen grab)

Queens

Fans of the Forest Park Carousel are one step closer to realizing their dreams. On Friday the Parks Department released an RFP for potential concessionaires to reopen the beloved carousel which has been closed for four years. The City is seeking a fifteen-year term to renovate, operate and maintain the historic ride. The carousel contains 49 horses, a lion, a tiger, a deer, and two chariots arranged in three concentric circles according to the proposal. The carousel also contains a non-operational original carousel band organ. Community activists have been trying to pressure the city to reopen it for years.

The Forest Park Carousel holds some of the last surviving creations of master wood-carver Daniel Carl Muller. The Forest Park location is approximately 8,000 square feet and will consist of the carousel, snack bar, ticket booth, and a seating area. Alcoholic beverages will also be allowed to be served.

The City is also encouraging bidders to operate additional rides in an open area east of the carousel. Parks envisions an amusement venue that would include small rides that cater to ages twelve (12) years old and younger. Proposals are due on Friday, May 13 at 3:00 PM

In 2008 the concessionaire paid $ 20,000 to the City from gross receipts of $72,000. In the last agreement, the fee paid to Parks was the higher of the minimum annual fee or percentage of gross , receipts. However, this time around the City is asking proposers to submit a flat fee offer only and not on a percentage of gross receipts.

A site tour is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Forest Park. — Geoffrey Croft

The beloved carousel in Forest Park Queens has been closed for four years. The metal security gate is closed in the background. (Photo By Manny)

Read More:

Shuttered Carousel In Forest Park Temporarily "Opened"

A Walk In The Park - November 3, 2010

Parks Department Refuses To Reveal Amount Of Carousel Donation

A Walk In The Park - March 19, 2010

Community Fights to Reopen Forest Park Carousel

A Walk In The Park - July 24, 2010

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2011

No. 19

www.nyc.gov/parks

PARKS ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO RENOVATE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN CAROUSELS AT FOREST AND FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK

Parks & Recreation announces that a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) has been issued for the renovation, operation, and maintenance of the carousel and snack bar and the optional development, operation and maintenance of a family amusement venue at Forest Park, Queens, and the renovation, operation, and maintenance of the carousel and operation of three mobile food units and two souvenir carts at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens. (see attached PDF)

“Taking the family on a carousel ride in a park is a treasured New York City experience,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We hope to receive proposals from companies with strong backgrounds in developing, operating and maintaining carousels and amusement venues, so that the carousels at Forest Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park can continue to delight New Yorkers for many generations to come.”

The Forest Park Carousel holds some of the last surviving creations of master wood-carver Daniel Carl Muller. He crafted figures for twelve carousels in his lifetime; this carousel is one of only two that remain. The Flushing Meadows Corona Park Carousel is one of the City’s four vintage carousels, it is an example of the "Illions" style. The Flushing Meadows Corona Park Carousel is a combination of two earlier Coney Island carousels, the Feltman Carousel (ca. 1903) and the Stubbman Carousel (ca. 1908). The Flushing Meadows "hybrid" debuted at the 1964 World's Fair. Both carousels are much loved by the communities that surround them and are an important part of the childhoods of many people who have grown up in Queens.

All proposals for this RFP must be submitted no later than Friday, May 13, 2011 at 3:00 pm. Parks will hold two recommended proposer meetings on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, one at each location. At 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, we will be meeting at the Forest Park location, which is located at the Woodhaven Boulevard entrance to the park. At 1:00 PM on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, we will be meeting at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park location, which is located near the entrance to Flushing Meadow Corona Park at 111 Street and 55 Avenue. All interested parties are urged to attend.

Hard copies of the RFP can be obtained, at no cost from Friday, April 8, 2011 through Friday, May 13, 2011, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays, at the Revenue Division of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, which is located at 830 Fifth Avenue, Room 407, New York, NY 10065.

The RFP is also available for download from Friday, April 8, 2011 through Friday, May 13, 2011, on Parks’ website. To download the RFP, visit www.nyc.gov/parks/businessopportunities and, after logging in, click on the “download” link that appears adjacent to the RFP’s description.

For more information or to request to receive a copy of the RFP by mail, prospective proposers may contact the Evan George, Project Manager, at (212) 360-3495 or at evan.george@parks.nyc.gov.