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Nearly 500 Names On Carousel Petition
posted: October 3rd, 2009 06:59 am |
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A petition to save the Fashion Island carousel has nearly 500 online signatures — but that probably won’t save the six-year-old attraction.
“I’m very excited, but I would be happier if it were close to 1,000 — that’s my goal,” said Keree James, a mother of two who started the petition late last month. “I have had a lot of feedback from friends, but I think the most important thing is not just the number, but what the people are actually saying in their comments.”
While several petition signers were anonymous, others left their names as well as comments.
“Please save the carousel!” wrote Catherine Anderson. “This is one of the main reasons I shop at Fashion Island! It is close to my home, and I know I can take my kids shopping without protest because I can promise them a fun ride on the carousel. We already miss the train and the pop up bubble fountain, and if the carousel is gone, I will just do my shopping at South Coast Plaza instead of Fashion Island.”
Jill Fletcher wrote that the carousel was the only reason she continues to shop at Fashion Island. “When I need to run errands, I shop with my three year old daughter. I can keep her happy while shopping if I tell her we can ride the carousel at the end (use to tell her we could ride the train). She loves riding the carousel and it is a better “treat” than ice cream, candy or some other snack. If they take the carousel out – I will have to do my shopping at Irvine Spectrum or South Coast – no reason left to go to Fashion Island.”
The carousel is scheduled to be removed permanently by the end of the year as part of a major remodel of Fashion Island. James and others have said that the carousel removal is only part of wave of changes at Fashion Island that affect families. The bubble fountain near the Gary’s stores is being removed, the kiosks selling hair ribbons and toys are now gone and the train closed two years ago.
In spite of the public outcry, Irvine Company officials said that the carousel will be history.
“While we obviously do not like to hear about customer dissatisfaction, our reinvestment plans are complete,” said John Christensen, vice president of the Irvine Company. “We understand that change can be difficult to accept, but we believe that after this renaissance is complete at Fashion Island, all of our customers — including families — will enjoy an unparalleled outdoor shopping and dining experience they have come to love and expect from Fashion Island.
To see the online petition, click here. Read our earlier story here.
Photo courtesy of Keree James, pictured with daughters Haylie and Courtney, who was enjoying her first ride on the carousel.
