NEW YORK - When reports circulated over the weekend of a last-minute deal to keep Coney Island's historic Astroland amusement park open for another year, owner Carol Hill Albert was not amused.
Indeed, her tone was bitter as she described plans to close the park Sunday night in lieu of any agreement with the city or with private developer Thor Equities, which have competing plans for the 3-acre Brooklyn site.
“Despite rumors to the contrary there are absolutely no negotiations going on, and there never were,” said Albert, whose family has owned Astroland for more than four decades.
She said that questions about Astroland's future had created stress for its 400 employees and hampered the acquisition of spare parts for the rides and that the park would close permanently.
“We cannot risk the safety of our customers,” she said.
The Cyclone roller coaster and the 150-foot-tall Wonder Wheel, a Ferris wheel, are separately owned and landmarked by the city so they are unaffected by the closing.
“Despite rumors to the contrary there are absolutely no negotiations going on, and there never were,” said Albert, whose family has owned Astroland for more than four decades.
She said that questions about Astroland's future had created stress for its 400 employees and hampered the acquisition of spare parts for the rides and that the park would close permanently.
“We cannot risk the safety of our customers,” she said.
The Cyclone roller coaster and the 150-foot-tall Wonder Wheel, a Ferris wheel, are separately owned and landmarked by the city so they are unaffected by the closing.
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