Plan for historic merry-go-round broke down
Staff writer
Marion’s century-old Central Park merry-go-round will not be ready for Chingawassa Days despite city officials saying a month ago that repairs were expected to be completed before festival setup began.
City Administrator Brian Wells told council members May 5 that materials had been ordered. Work was expected to begin once repairs to the ride’s center pole were completed, and the goal was to have the attraction ready before Chingawassa setup. At the time, Wells said repairs were expected to cost about $2,500.
Monday, however, Wells said restoration work concluded that the 100-year-old ride needed more extensive repairs than originally anticipated.
“Unfortunately, we hoped the merry-go-round would be ready in time for Chingawassa Days,” Wells said. “As we’re working on that, we’re finding that it’s going to need a little more TLC than that.”
According to Wells, crews discovered additional work was needed on portions of the upper structure that supports the ride. The city also plans a complete repainting and replacement of boards riders sit on.
The city continues to wait for a vendor restoring the ride’s center pole. Wells said the company was assisting with Marion’s project while handling larger jobs and that the city did not want to push too aggressively for completion.
“We’re relying on a vendor to help us get that pole back,” Wells said. “It has other bigger paint jobs than our 100-year-old merry-go-round.”
Wells said he was “pretty confident” the project could be completed by Labor Day and no later than Art in the Park on Sept. 19 and 20.
Mayor Michael Powers would like to see the attraction reopened before school starts if possible.
“This thing is, I mean it really is a piece of history,” Powers said. “Marion is very attuned to that park and maintaining that park, and I think it should be. It is kind of our crown jewel.”
Wells responded that the city’s goal was to restore the ride correctly rather than rush it back into service and have to remove it again later.
“The goal is to get it back right the first time and not have to take it back down and haul it away,” Wells said. “It needs to be safe.”
A family has offered about $1,500 in memorial funds to help pay for the project.
The vendor’s initial estimate before painting, replacing boards, and other additional work was about $2,500.
Council members also discussed having a ribbon-cutting or other celebration when the merry-go-round returns to service.