Vancouver city council will vote on whether to study a creative concept for the future of Playland – but reports that a Disneyland-style theme park is coming are incorrect, says the PNE.
“It’s important to understand that what we are talking about is an expansion and revitalization of Playland that will be a transformation of Playland from an amusement park to more of a theme park, but it’s not what the public would generally think of as a Disneyland-style theme park,” says PNE Spokesperson Laura Ballance.
“An initial study came up with some ideas of what that plan could look like, with estimated costs and we’re now at the stage of
doing further research and feasibility studies.”
But Ballance says at this point, that’s all it is – a concept developed years ago, that may take a small step forward next week.
“If we were actually announcing a theme park, we would hold a press conference. It’s not something we’re going to tweet out,” she said.
“The concept is more than a decade old.”
PHOTOS: Concepts and descriptions for the six zones
The concept, developed from 2010 to 2013, proposes a 10-year, $120-million redevelopment of Playland done over two stages, doubling its size by building on parking lots to the northeast of the current site.
The preliminary cost for the upgrades was budgeted at $45 million for new rides and attractions, $41 million for site redevelopment, $26 million for infrastructure renewal and upgrades and $8 million for site greening.
It would have six different zones, with different themes and rides for each.
By comparison, a new Star Wars land being constructed in Disneyland at the moment is expected to cost over a billion dollars.
Ballance also said a claim by Daily Hive Vancouver that the “cost of the entire project will be financed by the municipal government and repaid through the PNE’s future revenues” is incorrect.
“There’s no revenue model attached to this at all, because we don’t know what we’re looking at yet,” she said.
City council will vote next week whether to give $1.5 million to study the plan, which would include detailed design and costing. But a detailed proposal for the future of the land is years away.
“In about 18 months, we’ll know if it’s feasible or if it isn’t,” said Ballance.
“We are excited to move forward in the process, but what we don’t want is for the public to think this is a Disneyland theme park.”
The document city council will vote on can be read here.
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