All this talk about theme parks...
Since the JCC wants to put a theme park on the shipyard property, this brings up the point of how a theme park is structured. If you have something like Six Flags or Adventure Landing you're dealing with a park that is gated and you have to pay a fee to get in. With a park at the shipyards it could be an open space, with different attractions owned by different companies. Coney Island's entertainment area is basically Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Luna Park(which was Astroland until recently), and the Cyclone roller coaster(which was part of Astroland, but is now just owned by the city). There's also the boardwalk that is lined with bars, shops, restaurants, fast food vending, outdoor seating, and stand alone games — like Shoot The Freak. There's also an aquarium, Cyclone's baseball field, freak show, museums, and more. You are free to walk in and out of the parks without paying an admission fee, you pay per ride.
The shipyards could also work this way. One company might construct a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a building to house food vending, carnival games, bar... Another company might just build a large seafood restaurant. Another company might build a mixed use roller rink that could be used for skating, small circus events, roller derby, and music performances. So on and so on.... There's a large plot of land that just needs to have something built on it. Some people might think housing is the best idea, or office buildings. Some people really want a theme park while others only want green space.
Honestly, the best thing that could happen there is a mixed entertainment district. Hotel, residential, bars, restaurants, cinema, bowling, public park, rides, music venue, vending facing the riverwalk... None of these things will hurt that land. I don't understand why so many people on here want it to just be a large grassy park. There's Confederate Park and Klutho Park in Springfield. There's Met Park right next door to the shipyards. Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the country. Why waste all of this land on more land with nothing built on it?
Look at the harbour in Baltimore, San Antonio River Walk, or the Grove in LA. Pedestrian entertainment districts.
During the day you have shopping, food, and relaxation. At night you have boozin', music, and more food.
Sounds like a winner to me.
