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CREATED:20240608T194858Z
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SUMMARY:Freedomland U.S.A.
DESCRIPTION:Located in The Bronx\, Freedomland U.S.A. was celebrated as the “Disneyland of the East.”\nWhile it survived only five seasons (1960-1964)\, to this day the park generates fond memories\namong boomers who enjoyed its American history-themed attractions. \nFreedomland was conceived and built by C.V. Wood and his Marco Engineering Company.\nKnown to many as Woody\, he was Disneyland’s first employee and he brought Walt Disney’s\nimagination to life by leading the team that built that park. He then created Marco Engineering to\nbuild theme parks and other venues across the country. Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and\nthe community of Lake Havasu\, Arizona\, continue to prosper. The northeast Bronx marshland\nthat featured Freedomland U.S.A. eventually became a housing development and a shopping\ncenter. \nUnknown to Woody and the general public that adored Freedomland during the early 1960s\,\nlandowner William Zeckendorf\, Sr.\, local politicians\, city planners and construction unions\nconsidered the park a “placeholder” until property variances permitted significant development\non the marshland. The variances provided the green light for the construction of the largest\ncooperative housing community in the world. A shopping center was added about a decade later\nand an indoor mall was constructed on the remaining undeveloped land during 2012.\n“Co-op City was on New York City’s blueprints before the first shovel of dirt was turned to\nbuild the park\,” said Virgintino. “Freedomland U.S.A. was doomed to fail before the first guest\nentered the park. As everyone was hailing this great achievement in The Bronx on its opening\nday\, Woody already was concentrating on his Texas park and other projects. Other people\,\nincluding William Zeckendorf\, Sr.\, operated Freedomland U.S.A. and they kept it afloat\, or ran it\ninto the ground\, depending on one’s perspective. The park survived until the land variances\ncould be applied to the property. Then\, Freedomland U.S.A. was declared a bankrupt and the\nland was cleared for development.” \nMichael R. Virgintino \nMike Virgintino is a journalist and marketing communications executive for corporations and\nnonprofits (including historic sites/organizations) who began his career in the newsrooms of New\nYork City area radio stations. He also is an historian and a recognized expert about Freedomland\nU.S.A.\, a 1960s American history theme park located in The Bronx. He has authored\nFreedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History and Freedomland U.S.A.: More Definitive History\npublished by Theme Park Press and available on Amazon\, Barnes & Noble and other online\nretailers.
URL:https://kingsbridgehistoricalsociety.org/event/freedomland-u-s-a/
LOCATION:Edgehill\, 2570 Independence Ave\, Bronx\, NY\, 10463
CATEGORIES:1960s
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://kingsbridgehistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Freedomland.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Kingsbridge Historical Society":MAILTO:info@kingsbridgehistoricalsociety.org
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