Reasons:
1) Part of the long range plan for Bay Beach. The master plan went through numerous committee and council
meetings and have always included a wooden coaster. Bay Beach had a wooden roller coaster 70 years ago. It is
an historic US park with many historic rides. This continues that great tradition.
2) Any time a taxing body, like the city, can expand a revenue generator to lessen the tax burden on all of us
it should be pursued. Bay Beach MAKES money, plain and simple. The ride admissions will pay FOR the ride
itself and then be pure revenue.
3) The Brown County Taxpayer Association has backed this plan. They have a great reputation for being fiscal
watchdogs. The local carpenters union is also in favor because this will be bid locally and thus mean more jobs!
Questions:
1) Why the rush?
Actually, as I pointed out at council, this has been studied for years and voted on THREE times by this council.
This is no surprise and hardly a rush. Those aldermen who voted against this voted THREE times FOR it. Maybe
they have very bad memories......
2) Will it hold up in Green Bay's weather?
YES. There are coasters in other midwest cities that deal with cold and snow. There are coasters on the Atlantic
Ocean that deal with strong winds/salt water/hurricanes.
3) How can you lay off teachers and build a coaster?
The Green Bay school district has it's own budget and elected representatives. The two budgets are NOT together.
The city is looking to expand our revenue to help pay for our Fire, Police and roadways.
4) This is all about Elvis, isn't it?
Hardly. While this is a nice side story, it is not the main reason.
The PIPPIN, as it was originally called, was built in 1923 by famed roller coaster designer John A Miller. It is
the 2nd oldest coaster in the U.S. There are 2209 roller coasters in the world and 164 of those are wooden.
Roller coaster enthusiasts will still consider this the 2nd oldest coaster because it is the same design. It is a NEW
coaster with and OLD design.
5) Why are you buying a heap of rotted wood and rusty track?
The city is paying for the 'name' and the history. While we would be able to take as much of the old coaster as
we want, the reality is this will be a NEW coaster. We will use as much as we can to create a historic area by the coaster
to teach the history of wooden coasters and the Pippin in particular.