Fayetteville city leaders explore possibility of water or amusement park

The City Council of Fayetteville held a work session on Monday and one of the items on the agenda was to discuss the possibility of a future amusement or water park coming to Fayetteville.

Councilwoman Brenda McNair, who is spearheading the project, requested Robert Van Geons, the CEO and president of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Committee, to present potential strategies and benefits for various types of amusement parks in the area aimed at attracting new tourism and fostering growth in Fayetteville. These included options such as an indoor or outdoor water park, an amusement park, an adventure park or an urban Ferris wheel.

Before an amusement park attraction can come to Fayetteville, the city must first fund a market feasibility study to determine the kind of attraction that would be most beneficial for the city, Van Goens said. The study would cost between $75,000 to $100,000, according to Van Geons.

Van Geons told the board that unless the city is prepared to commit to engaging with an expert consultant and complete a market feasibility study, it will be difficult to accomplish this project from a market-based demand standpoint. "We’re growing, but there are others that are growing, too," he said.

Van Geons said that what's important now is defining the type of attraction the city desires before identifying the most suitable stakeholders.

During a discussion following Van Geons' presentation, council members D.J. Haire, Lynne Greene and Deno Hondros questioned which city staff members would be called upon to create a task force or stakeholder group, if the conversation would be fruitful or a repeat of the work session meeting and how funding would be secured for this project.

McNair then introduced a motion to gather stakeholders who might contribute toward the cost of the market feasibility study and who may benefit from such an attraction coming to town, such as the Cumberland County Tourism Development Authority and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as DistiNCtly Fayetteville, to determine if the city will pursue the study.

The motion passed 7-3. The council members who voted against were Mayor Mitch Colvin, Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen and Haire.

Reasoning for 'no' votes

Both Colvin and Jensen shared similar reasons for their vote against finding stakeholders to fund a feasibility study. They said that the city is in budget season and has other projects in the strategic plan that take priority. Attempts to reach Haire on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Jensen said the city needs more housing and that the community has wanted a natatorium, which is an indoor aquatic center for quite some time.

"They have been begging for that for years and the city does not have the funds to do that, but you know, with partnerships with schools and the county and hospitals, we can possibly make that happen," Jensen said Tuesday. "We can't have an amusement park and a natatorium."

Jensen said that the Fayetteville Cumberland Parks & Recreation park bonds are still pending completion and the city must maintain focus and prioritize finishing the projects already underway.

"My focus is finishing up this park and rec bonds and then working towards the natatorium," Jensen said. "These things take time."

Colvin said that he is always open to a conversation if a private agency or organization wants to take the lead on this project, but that this is not a city council's core function, which to him, is about growing the city and its jobs, adding that "Orlando benefits from Disney, but they're not Disney. Disney leads the way."

"I don't think cities need to venture into a space they're not familiar with," Colvin said Tuesday. "We have to stick to our strategic plan ... what happens is we can get sidetracked, with good intentions, but cities don't specialize in operating theme parks. This is more of a private sector visitor's bureau-led effort."

Reasoning for 'yes' vote

With the majority of council members voting to gather stakeholders to fund a study, the motion passed, and one of those votes in favor came from Councilman Mario Benavente, who said that he believed in McNair's ability to see this through.

"If it were anyone else, maybe I'd have more skepticism about the potential to bring those partners together and to actually get something out of them," Benavente said Tuesday. "I want to give her some room to see if she can make that happen."

Benavente said that he would like for the new attraction, if it comes, to encompass several interests that city residents have been wanting to see for years, such as an aquatic center.

McNair said that "from virtual reality experiences to cutting-edge roller coasters, an amusement park project is an opportunity to innovate and amaze."

She said that she hopes the stakeholder meeting will lead to fruitful discussions about city development, population dynamics, economic and environmental impacts, safety and security, to list a few of the talking points.

"I feel very strongly about it being a success. I feel that an amusement park would benefit the county and the city by building our relationship with each other," McNair said in a text message Tuesday. "The city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County is one but operates under a different jurisdiction in my opinion. But I do understand that this is a very complex project, and it would take a well thought out plan to be successful."

McNair said that the work session meeting was confusing at times, especially after having spoken with all councilmembers about the project and the vote needed to move to the next phase after Van Geons' presentation, adding that "I would have preferred to pass the $100,000 for a study to be done."

Questions stakeholders need to consider

Before a market feasibility study can be done, stakeholders must first narrow down what they would consider to be a win for the community, Van Geons said during his presentation.

Van Geons outlined in his presentation that several logistical questions that need to be addressed when stakeholders meet include determining the park's size; identifying potential local partners for the venture; reaching a consensus on whether the community is willing to invest public funds in the project long-term; and seeking expert advice for future steps.

With costs associated with moving forward and no guarantees of success, Van Geons emphasized that the project needs to be refined and focused.

"If it were easy, it would already be done," Van Geons said.

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Is an amusement park coming to Fayetteville? Latest from City Council