My answer is a resounding no! First...

My answer is a resounding no!

First we had the removal of the beautiful canopy of ficus trees on

Main Street, and now we can anticipate the replacement of the bumper

cars, the arcades and the scary ride with the nautical museum.

The bumper cars are one of the last opportunities for kids to

enjoy what was once a great thrill for their parents and grand-

parents when they were young.

The nautical museum belongs elsewhere, perhaps at Marinapark.

BARRY WHYTE

Corona del Mar

I’ve lived here for more than 15 years, and now I have young kids,

and they’re finally getting tall enough to drive the bumper cars

alone. They have been waiting for years to get at those bumper cars

and to be able to drive alone.

You cannot take something away that engages so many people --

especially in summer. It would also ruin the whole atmosphere of fun

there; we go there to spend our money, to eat lunch, to go on all the

rides, and it would just destroy the atmosphere.

I mean kids can enjoy the museum too, but the museum is a little

bit more for elderly people, and I just don’t think the two would be

a good mix.

Kids don’t have enough places to enjoy themselves as it is, unless

they go play soccer or something, which I consider useless. So they

need more places to just be able to hang out and enjoy life. The Fun

Zone is one of them, not to mention that it is a tourist attraction.

EVA SERAPHIN

Costa Mesa

I would definitely say no. The arcades, the rides are just

charming, and children really love them, and people of my generation

look back fondly on them and like taking a grandchild there.

The nautical museum is very nice, but it’s just a bad idea.

MARY SCHWARTZ

Newport Beach

I say absolutely not. The Fun Zone has been there for so long that

it’s part of our history, and it should not be changed at all.

LINDA SCHUMANN

Newport Beach

Absolutely not. It should stay where it is. My wife is

enthusiastic about it, and she and I agree they’re not marketing it

very well. It should be marketed and let people know it’s there and

exists, not that crazy sign they have standing up there.

Leave it where it is and advertise it.

RAYMOND RODENO

Corona del Mar

I do not believe the Balboa Fun Zone is the place for the Newport

Harbor Nautical Museum.

1. Most importantly, the present location draws visitors coming

from the north and south, because the museum is visible from the

Coast Highway. This is virtually impossible to duplicate.

2. The only access to the Fun Zone is by the ferry or Newport and

Balboa Boulevards.

3. Getting on the peninsula and finding parking during the summer

months is extremely difficult, and sometimes on the weekends, Balboa

Boulevard is closed to traffic, when there is no parking available.

4. The nautical museum has a substantial number of volunteers, not

all of whom would find getting to the Fun Zone easy. Perhaps locals

could replace any loss.

How about relocating the museum to the corner of Dover Drive and

Coast Highway?

WILLIAM E. BRACEY

Corona del Mar