MIDLAND BEACH — An amusement park is on the way to Staten Island's boardwalk, and the city is looking for developers to design it.
The Parks Department released a request for proposals on Thursday to build a children's amusement park on Father Capodanno Avenue, between Seaview Avenue and Sand Lane, near a spot where rides used to run decades ago in Midland Beach.
"Staten Island's beaches offer a host of possibilities for businesses and programming and we're looking forward to reviewing proposals for a new amusement park," said Adena Long, Staten Island borough commissioner for the Parks Department. "This is a great step in rebuilding and adding amenities to communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy."
The idea for an amusement park came from a November request for expressions of interest to develop the parts of Staten Island's waterfront that were damaged by Sandy. The goal was to bring restaurants and recreation back to the area, the Parks Department said.
The borough was home to several amusement parks along the shoreline in the early 1900s, with Midland Beach offering carousels, Ferris wheels and a roller coaster, according the blog Amusing the Zillion. South Beach hosted Happyland Amusements and Beachland Amusements, which closed in 2006.
While details on the amusement park will be left up to applicants, the RFP said proposals can include rides, attractions and games, with up to three food courts.
The Parks Department has not set a timeline for when the amusement park would be expected to take shape, but the deadline to submit proposals is April 16.
