I recently received the below exciting email from the director of Storyland and Playland, in response to my post below:
I read your post on the home page and sensed your discouragement. I wanted to write to encourage you that Fresno is certainly a place where people are taking seriously the idea that we need more things
for our children.
I am so pleased to say that Storyland & Playland just opened this weekend for our 2008 season and I think that while we have a long way to go, I am so pleased that we are opening in 2008 4 new MAJOR new attractions for the families of our valley. The most exciting is a FREE TO THE PUBLIC splash park opening in the center of Playland this Memorial Day called “Splash Junction.” This is a $190,000 investment not only into Rotary Playland but the families of our valley. Above that Alice’s Birthday Courtyard is getting a $120,000 remodel and makeover and in the next few weeks Playland will be opening “Shipwreck Cove” a new pirate themed boating adventure on Lake Washington and a
new Tilt-A-Whirl. In total over $400,000 in new attractions and improvements are coming to Storyland & Playland this year. On top of all that, over $35,000 in fresh paint has covered Rotary Playland.
I did also notice you mentioned the ramp up to the big ferris wheel (Big Rocko) at Playland in your post. I am not sure if you know or not but that ramp was destroyed and completely rebuilt in January
2007. It was rebuilt with metal and is covered with beautiful redwood thanks to the Carpenters Union here locally.
I want to encourage you that Fresno is on the verge of BIG THINGS!! At Roeding Park alone, a new master plan is just being completed that will almost double the size of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo as well as
Storyland & Playland. In the next 12 years you will see MAJOR changes in Roeding park.
I am excited that we are actively pursuing projects like a miniature golf course in the park and adding an authentic .75 acre Native American cultural center and village to the North of Storyland.
We are striving to create parks that the Central Valley will be proud of. I would love to sit with you and show you the Master plan and share with you the many new attractions that will be coming in the
years to come!! And that’s just Roeding Park.
Lastly, we do now have a website at www.storylandplayland.com I would love to make our listing a live link. We also have what I believe to be some really affordable birthday packages at the parks.
DON’T LOSE HOPE!! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Barry Falke
Executive Director
Rotary Storyland & Playland
