Kiddieland has an emotional last day

Kiddieland has an emotional last day - Thousands enjoy and say goodbye to amusement park in Melrose Park on its last day open to the public
By Georgia Garvey and Steve Brosinski
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
September 28, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-kiddieland-closes-28-sep28,0,7923084.story


T.J. Pleva chokes up when she reminisces about her decades' worth of trips to Kiddieland in Melrose Park.

"We have a lot of sad memories of saying goodbye to this," she said, motioning to her two children, Haley, 8, and Nolan, 6. She came when she was young and brought her own kids to the amusement park four times this year, Pleva said, but "we're looking forward to a great last day."

Kiddieland opened its gates to the general public for the final time on Sunday, and hundreds waited outside in bright sunlight for the chance to buy tickets. At one point, more than 400 stretched in an hourlong line around the chain-link fence, listening to the screams of those riding the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Little Dipper. The park, open since 1929, will host one final celebration next week for those who won bids to be among the last on rides like the train and roller coaster.

About 6,000 people came to Kiddieland Sunday, according to park estimates, with a line that was about 1,000-feet long at its peak.

The adults wore T-shirts with farewell messages and admitted to nostalgic motivations, but the kids lived only in the moment.

Nicholas Martorina and his father, Sam, were near the front of the line, and the 9-year-old ran full-bore for the bumper cars when the gates opened at noon.

"It feels awesome," said Nicholas, a third-grader at Andrew Jackson Language Academy in Chicago. "I've never been first in line for anything."

Among the morose, though, were park owners, who expected mixed emotions.

"It's certainly going to be bittersweet," said Tom Norini, one of the owners. "We're trying to be as upbeat as we can."

He said the part of the family that owns the property Kiddieland sits on didn't allow a lease renewal, so closing was the only option. The park's future, Norini said, is unknown. "Nobody's been able to find out," he said.

The family drama, though, was the last thing on the minds of those waiting to enter the park. They instead relived their own Kiddieland memories.

Kisha Lipscromb of Bellwood said that as a child, she rode the steam train, the Kiddieland Limited, over and over while her mother studied for nursing school on a nearby bench.

Denise Javers of Chicago brought her daughter, Amanda, 11, and told her stories about her own childhood, when a day of Kiddieland would be followed by barbecue at a nearby Russell's restaurant.

"Everybody has wonderful memories, and everybody has a story," said Mary Rynes, another owner. She said they've heard of people meeting on rides, then winding up married.

Those who worked at Kiddieland said the park was just as important to them. Before the doors opened, they danced the Cha Cha Slide together. They say it's the kind of relaxed environment they cherish.

"You meet a lot of new people, friendships that I'm sure will last forever," said Diana Lopez, 17, who works in the arcade. The last day is "going to be a lot of fun. ... It's going to be a sad day, as well."

Georgia Garvey is a Tribune reporter, and Steve Brosinski is a freelancer. ggarvey@tribune.com