Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009

Gulf News

Al Ain: Authorities in the oasis city are making a concerted effort to restore Hili Fun City, once the largest and most popular theme park in the region, to its former glory.

A final plan to revive the fortunes of the theme park through a renovation will be announced by either Al Ain Municipality or the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) upon the completion of a study, Ahmad Chawk, deputy general manager of Hili Fun City, said.

The ADTA oversees new development initiatives in Al Ain, especially in the tourism sector, in line with recently unveiled Al Ain 2030 Plan. The plan also envisages train and tram services in the not-too-distant future, the construction of new hotels, thousands of new housing units, and other tourism and civic infrastructure in the city.

Awad Bin Hasoom Al Darmaki, general manager of Al Ain Municipality, had announced at a meeting recently that Hili Fun City would be developed and modernised by the ADTA through an Australian company in the near future.

The park, Chawk said, retains a unique image which will be maintained through the planned development. Covering an area of one square kilometre, the Fun City is owned by Al Ain Municipality. It was inaugurated by Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region, in October 1985.

The Fun City was also famous for its annual spring festival, which has not been organised for the last several years. The spring festival used to be the biggest events associated with the park and would invariably attract top-class UAE and foreign performers, including singers and dancers, acrobats, magicians, and cultural troupes.

The decline of the theme park over the years has been accentuated by the growing popularity of the Green Mubazzarah, a public park at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet.

Some former residents have sought to draw public attention to Hili Fun City's condition through an internet forum (http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26681).

One angry visitor from Dubai posted pictures to highlight the bad times that have befallen the park.

The theme park used to boast more than 30 rides including a roller coaster, bumper cars. A laser dome and a dynamic motion theatre where viewers would be able to relate to the movement on screen through their chairs were among other attractions.

Other rides like octopus, astroliner, sky flier, road train, bicycles made for two, bumper boats, whirling teacup, wonder wheel were also popular draws besides an Olympic-sized ice rink, coin-operated games and play areas with swings and climbing frames. Many of these facilities are currently not available.

One square km of fun

The Hili Fun City covers an area of one square kilometre, and it is owned by Al Ain Municipality. It was inaugurated by Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region, in October 1985.

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