TACOMA, Wash. -- Humpty Dumpty escapes demolition in this story.

Metro Parks officials have at least temporarily reversed their decision to tear down Never Never Land, a 40-year-old theme park that has been hit by vandals in recent years.

Pleas from Tacoma schools psychologist Tod Sharon and other members of the public persuaded parks officials to leave what remains of the much-loved children's play area until a permanent decision about its future can be made, spokeswoman Susan Hulbert said.

So when Never Never Land reopens on Sunday, Humpty Dumpty, as always, will greet guests from his perch on a giant stack of multicolored books. The Old Woman's shoe will tower over children's play equipment, including a structure in the shape of a boat. And nine nursery rhyme-themed playhouses will await the shrieks and laughter of children as they make their way along a path through forest.

The structures originally were scheduled for removal or demolition last month, completing the transformation of Never Never Land from an aging attraction featuring figures and playhouses from children's nursery rhymes to a family picnic area with tables and play structures.

# posted by Dan @ Wednesday, June 30, 2004 0 comments

Three month revival for Dreamland

The owner of Dreamland theme park (sic) in Margate has announced the attraction will reopen for three months.

The leisure park closed its doors in November 2003 for what everyone thought was the last time.

But owner, David Wallace, who took over the famous attraction last summer, has said he will open the park for three more months from 3 July.

Some of the rides have been removed by the former owner but among those up and running will be the Scenic Railway.

Pressure group

The ride is the UK's only listed rollercoaster (sic) and is the oldest in Britain.

The former owner of Dreamland, Jimmy Godden, announced last year he was to close the park with a view to selling the site.

But Mr Wallace took over and opened up the park last summer and for the autumn half-term.

Now rides are being refurbished and maintenance certificates obtained in readiness for the park's opening this summer.

Campaigners have been trying to save the park because it is seen as a vital part of the town.

A pressure group called Save Dreamland was set up to try and revive the attraction and prevent the site being turned over for housing.

# posted by Dan @ Tuesday, June 29, 2004 0 comments

A new exhibit in the Hall of Medicine and Public Health this year is Mac the Mechanical Man. Camera eyes send motion pictures to his brain. His brainpan flashes and you see reflexes work. Mac came over from England last April, borrowed from the British Ministry of Health. He swallows billard balls of different colors and you can see them take different courses through his digestive track (sic). "He's supposed to explain all these processes," the girl told us," but right now he can't. He left his British accent on a record in London. The people forgot to ship it." The World's Fair staff's worried about this. They're afraid Mac's voice may be lost somewhere in the war.

# posted by Dan @ Sunday, June 27, 2004 0 comments