Because Of Course New York City Needs A Water Theme Park

People seem to be noticing that the audacious plan to build a gazillion-dollar water park on Randalls Island might just be a bad idea:

City Controller William Thompson and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer are challenging Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to lease 26 acres of the city-owned island to create the $168 million Six Flags-style outdoor water park and indoor beach club.

If built, it would be the first such theme park in a major American city.

But Thompson is furious that Bloomberg aides want to push through yet another sole-source bid for a huge private project that uses public land or resources.

And Stringer is worried that residents of East Harlem and the South Bronx, the two neighborhoods nearest to the proposed park, won’t be able to afford admission prices, which could run $37 for adults and $27 for children.

“How will an East Harlem family of four pay $150 for a day in that park?” Stringer said. “Or do East Harlem kids just watch the water rides through binoculars on a hot summer day?”

But you have to like the way the project’s boosters project a confident Nathan Thurm image:

“There’s a lot of discussion to make the park community-friendly,” said Herbert Ellis, the president of Aquatic Development Group, which has built scores of water parks around the country. “I don’t think there’s anyone that won’t be able to afford it,” Ellis said.