Canada's Playland set to get major makeover
by Alice Davis | 12 Sep 2014
Vekoma's Corkscrew has been serving Playland's visitors since 1994 / Tiffa Day via Wikimedia Commons
Playland in Hastings Park, Vancouver, Canada, has announced major renovation and expansion plans, with work commencing in autumn 2015. The 13-year project is part of an ambitious plan by Vancouver City Council to overhaul Hastings Park.
The makeover at the amusement park, which opened in 1958, has a budget of CA$80m (US$72m, £47m, €56m), the Vancouver Sun reported. The money will be used to redesign the look of the park and modernise its ride offering. Playland owners Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) will increase the park’s size from 60,000sq m to 90,000sq m (646,000sq ft to 969,000sq ft).
Hastings Park is a major sports, culture and recreation destination in the Canadian city, and the master plan includes new green spaces, a new sports park and renovations to the amphitheatre and festival plaza.
However, Playland is one of the most profitable of sites at Hastings Park, PNE and Playland president Mike McDaniel told the Vancouver Sun, generating about CA$10m (US$9.1m, £5.6m, €7m) in revenue in a season.
The complete reinvention of Hastings Park is expected to cost up to CA$300m (US$388m, £239m, €209m) over 20 years. The council still needs to sign off on Playland’s proposals, but McDaniel said he expects that to be finalised by Q1 2015.
Playland in Hastings Park, Vancouver, Canada, has announced major renovation and expansion plans, with work commencing in autumn 2015. The 13-year project is part of an ambitious plan by Vancouver City Council to overhaul Hastings Park. The makeover at the amusement park, which opened in 1958, has a budget of CA$80m (US$72m, £47m, €56m), the Vancouver Sun reported. The money will be used to redesign the look of the park
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