Dear Nieces and Nephews
If you were the Prince of a Land nestled between two of the most beautiful rivers in the realm; what would you do to protect those rivers and ensure the environmental health of the land? How would you enable your subjects to enjoy them while doing so?
If you were Prince Von Noodlehaus, you would build a series of “fun” artificial rivers in between. charge admission and siphon money off the top.
That scenario, while fictitious, is somewhat relevant to our situation today, here in Orange County NY.
You see, in THIS land of Orange, we have unimaginative leaders whose only response for land use and revenue generation at this time is: “Water Park!”
We need ratables!
“Water Park.”
We need tourist revenue!
“Water Park.”
We need jobs!*
“Water Park.”
STEVE SAID: “I’m excited about it,”
Draggons Cave
Woodbury Commons
The Castle Fun Park
Great Wolf
Legoland
Casino and water park in Monticello
Water parks were proposed in Walkill, Middletown and Woodbury. There is a water park planned for Port Jervis (on the river- bad news for the Delaware River!)
ENOUGH!
There are over 30 water parks in neighboring Pennsylvania alone and there are water parks in nearby Fishkill, NY; Palisades Park NJ; Vernon NJ; Hope NJ; Sparta NJ as well as Six Flags in Jackson NJ. The Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park in Scotrun, Pocono Twp is 85 miles from NYC via Route 80, (an eight to ten lane highway). Great Wolf in Orange County would be 63 miles from NYC, via roadways already overcrowded, stressing our communities’ resources and providing more pollution; all with another planned theme park and resort, Legoland, 10 miles away from the proposed Great Wolf Resort!!!
if you count amusement parks in general, there are even more, all located less than 100 miles from Chester NY, which already has the Castle Fun Center. (Fun parks is Steve’s answer to everything- this one when he was on the Chester town board)
ENOUGH!
STEVE SAID: “I've had productive conversations about this project with leadership from Great Wolf Lodge throughout the past year,”
Was this at the same time that you and Maureen went on your “fact finding” jaunt to the Water Park in Wisconsin? Or was it when you went to Legoland Florida?
Steve Neuhaus at LEGOLAND Florida
Great Wolf CEO Murray Hennessy SAID: “We’re looking forward to continued dialogue with local government officials, as well as future engagement with the local community.”
Which means, just like Legoland, they have already decided and will now go through the “approval process” for show.
Dear Murray, you should have a dialouge with the citizens of Orange County first.
Nieces and Nephews, we must mention that it is easier to siphon off monetary benefits unnoticed with a daily revenue stream instead of monthly. We can only hope that some form of “self enrichment” is not the true motivator on the part of our “local government officials” for welcoming Great Wolf. And let us hope that none of the government officials have stock in amusement parks.
Steve, can’t you think of anything else besides amusement parks of some kind? What about something truly educational, like an expansion of SUNY Orange or another bona-fide college?
Or how about putting medical facilities and doctors offices there instead of piling them on top of Valley View? (Why do you want access to that land so desperately?) Or how about environment-friendly businesses?
This would be a perfect site for Medline!!!
Rob Jerolman, Supervisor of Blooming Grove, have you ever considered that we do not have the sewer capacity required??? Have you become a true FOS?
Alex Jamieson, FOS, are you so concerned about your personal situation with the NYS Department of Labor, that you let Steve to tell you what to do?
Are any of you “local elected officials” concerned about land use and needs of OC residents at all?
And before you push for a multi-year PILOT for the Wolf, look at this:
Jobs? Take a look at what is happening in Anaheim, California, home to many amusement parks including Disneyland and Great Wolf (which seem to have provided many jobs, but not ones that provide a “livable wage”. )
Why can’t we do something to protect people in Orange County NY?
Because our “leaders” don’t seem to care about us at all.
And if they take lessons from Legoland, we can look forward to the Black Meadow Creek looking like the OtterKill.
Welcome to Orange County, the Entertainment Capital in the 3rd World.
GREAT INSIGHT AUNTIE WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN NOODLE LAND THE HOME OF STEVE NEUHAUS'S SIMPLETON CREATIVE PLANNING. HOW ABOUT UPSCALE ADULT SEX STORES LEGALISE DRUGS,BROTHELS ETC. COLIN SCHMIT IS STEVE NOODLEHAUS,S MINI ME.
ReplyDeleteTIME TO FLEE NOODLETOWN.CHECK OUT HOW MANY OF YOUR ORANGE CO. NY POLITICAINS JUDGES ETC FLED TO FLORIDA,No &So. CAROLINA OR HAVE 2ND HOMES TO FLEE TO,EDDIE DIANA FOR ONE. PERHAPS THEY CAN ESTABLISH SANITARY LAND FILLS ETC. GOTTA LOVE IT.
ReplyDelete“Building an Orange County indoor water park could benefit the water park being built on Sullivan County’s casino site and help a future Legoland in Goshen, the properties’ operators said last week.”
ReplyDelete“Their reactions followed Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus’ announcement Wednesday that executives at Great Wolf Resorts are considering building an indoor family water park in southern Orange County.”
http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180902/second-water-park-could-boost-region-as-family-travel-destination
Dear Noodlehaus:
In some marketing class this may make sense but it is not what MOST residents of Orange County envision when they speak of the benefits of living here. And the Great Wolf is not geared toward the locals when they state the following:
“Our water park is exclusively reserved for our guests. In the event you have visitors during your stay, a limited number of additional water park wristbands (valid for one day only) may be purchased. Additional wristbands are $50 each and you may purchase one guest band per registered guest (3 yrs+) in your suite. For the safety and security of our guests, wristbands are required at all times when inside the water park facility.”
But Auntie and the team do thank you and Mr. Hennessy for confirming that your vision for Orange County is indeed an Amusement Park/ Resorts hell.
Some additional reading:
New Great Wolf Resorts CEO aims for rapid growth
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/backstory/ct-biz-backstory-great-wolf-resorts-20180622-story.html
When can we look forward to a picture of Steve and family (or Steve and Maureen?) at Great Wolf?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIn the Poconos, Camelback’s water park serves children up to age 16 with big water attractions and a mature décor, while adults drink and relax; but Great Wolf is geared to children up to 10, Ellis said.
“As kids get older, they graduate from Great Wolf to our park,” Ellis added.
http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180902/second-water-park-could-boost-region-as-family-travel-destination
LEGOLAND(R) Florida Resort is a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12.
There goes that theory of not “competition”- “complementary” or as we call it “the Cluster Club”
The key word here is "amusement". Instead of attracting strong businesses which provide JOBS which pay salaries that can support living in OC, instead we will be providing part time, minimum wage, no growth jobs. These investors will get rich exhausting our water sources, deforesting our land, and making OC a banal joke for the residents who will be fleeing in droves to find their amusement elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Now we have to do something. Write letters to your local and county reps, go to meetings and be vocal! Tell everyone you meet what is going on! Do it without disparagement,leave the name calling to us lol
ReplyDeleteAnd be sure to copy Mr.Hennessey at great wolf resorts 350 N Orleans st.suite 1000B Chicago Il 60654-11822
Chicago
Now would be a good time if you do not want OC to be "Stevie's Playland".