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Water rats, your time will come in 2008: It looks like the Randalls Park Water Park will will be approved by the city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee. City Comptroller William Thompson and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer had opposed the the park's expensive tickets and questioned whether or not it will really serve the community closest to the water park, Stringer has come around, as the Aquatic Development Group Inc. has agreed to discount the $37 adult/$30 child tickets during the summer (the NY times reports 45% in the summer, smaller discounts the rest of the year). Thompson, however, is still dubious of the park's plans, noting the ADG's previous bankruptcy claims and lack of a fair bidding process. Gothamist wonders if there will be a day in 2009 when Comptroller Thompson is able to say "Told you so!" the way he is able to with the Snapple deal. The city stands to make millions, if the park is successfful, so we imagine it'll do everything in its power to make it a success.
More about the water park from the Randall's Island Sports Foundation. And what do you think of our suggested name for the park - "Hell's Gate Water Park." Now, here's a question to ponder: If you're on the Franchise and Congession Review Committee, do you get to try all the concession fare?
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"Hell's Gate" is a common misnomer. It's actually the nonpossessive "Hell Gate". According to Wikipedia:
The name "Hell Gate" is a corruption of the Dutch phrase Hellegat, meaning "bright passage," which was originally applied to the entirety of the East River.
I hope they will have some type of mass transit option, like a ferry boat from key locations around the city. If this is just for cars, well hello congestion from the 'burbs!
Also once the East River was called the Sound River since that's where it goes, through Hellgate. The Zum Zum restaurants in NYC used to serve Hell and Dunkel beer (light and dark, in Bavaria). I read because of the rocks the tidal water were turned white, hence the term (before it was blasted away, in a record setting explosion). An experimental underwater electrical generator is being tested, recently a whole dam for electricity proposed across the river, the eastside first settled, because prevailing winds allowed sailing ships on and off the shore without a tow into the river.