Lincoln Park Carousel: It's baaaack (almost) UPDATED

Currently, the City of LA has only one merry-go-round operating (by contract). It may be the most important merry-go-round in the world, as it is said that this Merry-go-round (and watching his daughters enjoy it) gave Walt Disney the idea of a theme park - a magic kingdom of sorts. Located in Griffith Park and operating there since 1937, it's the only one the City has known since the 1970s. But it wasn't always that way, nor will it be that way for much longer...

Before the Griffith Park Carousel opened, the City had a merry-go-round in the "amusement park" that was Lincoln Park. Alligator farms, a zoo, boat rides, and a merry-go-round made this park a day-long destination. The Lincoln Park merry-go-round opened in 1914 and was the first of the Davis family's operations in the City. (The original 1914 carousel is said to have been moved in 1931 to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.) As far as most people understand it, an arson fire destroyed the carousel in 1976. The 1924 organ was saved at the time, though, because it was in Ed Openshaw's shop (in Atwater) for maintenance. What people forget, is that the carousel had been closed & vacant for a year because times had changed and it wasn't economical for a concession or the City to operate the merry-go-round. Now, the Davis' operated both Carousels, but Ed Openshaw (with Don Rand) bought the operation in Griffith Park from them and kept it open. He still has the original Lincoln Park organ in New Hampshire where he now lives.

So, why all this history of the carousel and organ, you may wonder.

Well, for the last 5 years, the City & the Department of Recreation and Parks has been working to re-establish a merry-go-round where the historic carousel once stood (Cultural Historic Landmark Monument No. 153). In July 2001, an unsolicited proposal to re-install the Merry-Go-Round at Lincoln Park was submitted to the Department. At first it seemed cost prohibitive on the City's side to make the upgrades to allow the concessionaire to make his improvements and install his carousel and organ at the cost of $35,000. Eighteen months later in November of 2003 and with the support & urging of Councilman Ed Reyes, the Department received $50,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the project. Another $60,000 was allocated four months later in February of 2004 from the Concession Improvement Account (funds collected as a 10% surcharge on concession revenues to upgrade & improve revenue-enhancing improvements) to meet the "not-to-exceed" funding level of 110,000 for preparing the structure (shell) and other security and facility upgrades to open the merry-go-round. Things were moving along until this month, when on August 9, 2006, the Board of Commissioners had to approve another $45,000 from the Concession Improvement Account to pay the costs for security that was not calculated initially due to the unknown nature of what would be needed. Interestingly enough, though, security was the main suggestion and concern back in 2001 when the idea was first shopped around to stakeholders - everyone loved the idea of a merry-go-round in the park but recommended that security be considered if the project moved forward.

Today, with a City cost of about $155,000, the City will have a new merry-go-round. It was scheduled to be opened this week, but no official notice has been given yet. Now, in 1931, merry-go-rounds (including organ) could cost from $6,000 all the way up to $35,000 for fancy ones. By the details below, I would venture to say this new merry-go-round is on the middle to low end of the spectrum. So, 75 years later, are we getting a good deal? I would say the addition to this eastside park is a good one, and hopefully, the whole City will take pride in it's newest asset.

The Details of the new Lincoln Park merry-go-round:
-It is built in the former shelter of the destroyed, historic merry-go-round (some benches had to be moved out to allow this).
-The ticket prices for rides will be set by the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners and should be "very moderate," according to the Department.
-The music will come from a modern system, not the original organ that does still exist.
-There will be 22 horses on the carousel.
-The project will be operated by a concessionaire as a pilot program.
-The City will own the improvements, but the concessionaire will retain ownership of the Carousel itself.

UPDATE:
The latest news is that there have been further delays and the Carousel won't be open for at least another 6 weeks. Hopefully, Rec & Parks can get the kinks worked out and reveal their project to the world as either a trbute to the past glory of merry-go-rounds or a waste of time & money.

Image courtesy of Ernie Mendoza via www.lincolnheightsla.com.