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Carbondale man wants to see Legoland Park in Jackson County
By Adam Testa, The Southern
Monday, January 14, 2008 12:42 AM CST
CARBONDALE — A Carbondale man wants to see the United States’ second Legoland theme park constructed in Southern Illinois.

Dennis Smith recently sent a letter to the Lego Corp. after seeing its California theme park on the Internet. Lego, the manufacturer of the popular children’s building block toys, operates amusement parks in California, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany.

Smith has never visited any of the other Legoland locations, but after visiting Six Flags St. Louis, he started researching various amusement parks and decided to contact Lego about building a park between Carbondale and Murphysboro. The company responded to Smith’s inquiry by sending him a letter about its California location and its LEGO Club.

“Careful consideration must go into a decision of such major importance, so I’m referring your letter on to the appropriate managers for review,” the letter said.

Julie Estrada, spokesperson for the California park, said plans are in the works for building a second Legoland in the United States but a location has not been selected yet.

Smith followed up with his own letters to the Jackson County Board, Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole and Murphysboro Mayor Ron Williams. He said he wanted to show them the support of the project and its potential to create jobs for the region.

Williams said such a project would be wonderful for Jackson County because it would give local residents an additional entertainment option and also would attract tourists to the area.

The project would be too large for a municipality to handle, so an outside planner would need to be used, he said. Williams ensured Smith the city would do whatever it could to help with the project, including aiding with utility service.

Smith’s plan for the theme park also includes the addition of a zoo featuring “animals from all over the world” and a water park.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people and they’re hoping it comes here,” he said.

While waiting to hear news on the new Legoland park, Estrada said Smith and other Lego enthusiasts could rejoice in knowing the United States’ first Legoland Discovery Center, which she described as a smaller version of Legoland, will be opening near Chicago this August.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

351-5031

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marie campa wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:06 PM:

" I am a former resident of Carbondale. That will never happen. I am now in Southern California about 2 miles away from Legoland. Carbondale does not have the weather for a Legoland. It snows! There is no major freeway to get to Legoland. The yearly wether winter time is usually about 66 degrees in the winter.

You hav ethe beautiful ocean near and many other attractions in the area.

It just will never happen "

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Why Not? wrote on Jan 14, 2008 3:17 PM:

" Did it ever hurt to try something? With an attitude that is seen here, there would never be a new baseball team and stadium in Marion or even farther back in history, a college in Carbondale. I applaud anyone who looks an new creative ways to bring jobs to the area no matter how far fetched! "

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laughable wrote on Jan 14, 2008 11:17 AM:

" This will never happen. Is this guy just dreaming?

"Julie Estrada, spokesperson for the California park, said plans are in the works for building a second Legoland in the United States but a location has not been selected yet."

So this guy thinks LegoLand, out of all places, should land in Southern Illinois....wishful thinking. "

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Mildly Amused wrote on Jan 14, 2008 9:31 AM:

" I am still confused as to how this was "breaking news" on Friday. And just when I thought the "story" had come and gone, it appears in today's paper! Is The Southern really taking this guy seriously, or are they simply mocking him? I can't figure it out. I remember about 10 years ago or so when the rumor was that they were going to build a Busch Gardens in Marion out behind the mall. Of course, we all see how far that got. The bottom line is that we don't have the infrastructure or the population base around here to support a major theme park. "

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Get real SI! wrote on Jan 14, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Seriously, whose idea was it that this is news? Is it really so slow in the newsroom that you guys will report on any wild hair somebody gets? Hey, maybe will finally get a Busch Gardens too! Kudos to the editors...they really know a story. "

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Nice Try wrote on Jan 14, 2008 7:30 AM:

" The letter from Lego stated "careful consideration must go into a decision of such major importance, so I’m referring your letter on to the appropriate managers for review". In other words, "thanks, but no thanks". "

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