NEW CHIEF EXEC: The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers, and Attractions (BALPPA) has announced the appointment of Jeremy Reed as its new chief executive. Reed has served as the visitor operations director for English Heritage over the past 11 years, where he was responsible for some 121 English Heritage properties in the North of England. Prior to his time with English Heritage, he worked for Aramark, the largest business contract catering company in the world, as operations director for London.
HIGH HONOR: On October 11, 2011, Rob Norris, John Norris, George Norris, Suzy Hofsass, and Anne Wells, owners of Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York, will be inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame. Seabreeze has been a family park since George Long bought it in 1946, and all of the current owners are his descendents. Rob Norris has served as park president and general manager since 1985 and held the post of IAAPA chair in 2006. According to the National Amusement Park Historical Association, the 132-year-old park is the fourth-oldest in the United States and the twelfth-oldest in the world.
NEXT IAAPA CHAIR MEETS EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Recently, Roland Mack, managing partner of Europa-Park in Germany and the incoming chair of IAAPA in 2012, met with the European Commission, which is the European Union’s (EU) executive body. Mack used the meeting to discuss current topics in the theme park industry, including international safety standards, with Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso and the Commission. Europa-Park reports that the European Commissioners were “deeply impressed” by the dynamic growth of the park industry and the impact that parks have on international tourism as a driving force in regional development.
NEW WILD ADVENTURER: Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia, has named Greg Charbeneau as the park’s new vice president and general manager. Charbeneau has been with Herschend Family Entertainment, the parent company of Wild Adventures, since 2008. He brings 24 years of experience in the attractions industry to the new post, including a stint at Adventure Aquarium as vice president and executive director, and positions at the New Jersey State Aquarium, the Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Ohio, and SeaWorld Florida. He has developed multiple research ventures and overseen large construction and renovation projects.
ITPS SIGNS AGREEMENTS: International Theme Park Services (ITPS) of Cincinnati, Ohio, has signed multiple agreements with CJSC Kind Angel, which is developing the first Kind Angel of the World monument near Limassol, Cypress. The monument, with a planned opening in the summer of 2014, will stand 443 feet in height and is designed to emulate the silhouette of an angel. It will act as an observation attraction and contain restaurants, concert halls, gift shops, and more. ITPS will perform a feasibility analysis and provide pre-opening operations planning services and onsite management.
A NEW LIFE FOR OLD TOWN: Old Town USA, an amusement and retail center located in Kissimmee, Florida, is being purchased by Gary Conroy, who has agreed to buy the 9-acre property from T.H. Old Town Associates. The deal should close this fall. Conroy has already invested in new attractions at Old Town this year, including a 300-foot zip line, a ropes course, and a rock climbing wall.
PRODUCTS
CREATING LESS STATIC:While static buildup on playground surfaces may seem to be just an annoyance, to those who depend on certain electronic devices like cochlear implants, the effects can be serious. So Forever- Lawn has introduced Playground Grass Ultra, the only playground surface featuring the new XStatic technology, which greatly reduces the static buildups and shocks that can damage the external transmitter on these electronic devices. The surface has performed successfully for months at its first installation at Largo Central Park in Largo, Maryland. www.playgroundgrass.com.
WHAT IN BLUE BLAZES?: Benchmark Games recently debuted its new game, “Blue Blazes,” at the Roller Skating Association & International Laser Tag Association convention in Orlando. When playing the game, players try to drop balls into targets on a spinning wheel, and hitting a target causes the game to award tickets. The convenient pullout ticket drawer holds 18,000 tickets, and the cabinet’s internal workings are easily accessible through a large swing-out door. The game’s colorful lights are LEDs, leading to long-lasting service. www.benchmarkgames.com
DRIPPING LEAF: Waterplay Solutions has introduced the Waterleaf, a water sprayer with grooved tracks that make it mimic the look of a giant frond. Standing some 10 feet high, it drips water softly off the partially opaque Waterleaf onto persons standing below. www.waterplay.com.
NEW CHIEF EXEC: The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers, and Attractions (BALPPA) has announced the appointment of Jeremy Reed as its new chief executive. Reed has served as the visitor operations director for English Heritage over the past 11 years, where he was responsible for some 121 English Heritage properties in the North of England. Prior to his time with English Heritage, he worked for Aramark, the largest business contract catering company in the world, as operations director for London. 
NEXT IAAPA CHAIR MEETS EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Recently, Roland Mack, managing partner of Europa-Park in Germany and the incoming chair of IAAPA in 2012, met with the European Commission, which is the European Union’s (EU) executive body. Mack used the meeting to discuss current topics in the theme park industry, including international safety standards, with Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso and the Commission. Europa-Park reports that the European Commissioners were “deeply impressed” by the dynamic growth of the park industry and the impact that parks have on international tourism as a driving force in regional development. 
NEW WILD ADVENTURER: Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia, has named Greg Charbeneau as the park’s new vice president and general manager. Charbeneau has been with Herschend Family Entertainment, the parent company of Wild Adventures, since 2008. He brings 24 years of experience in the attractions industry to the new post, including a stint at Adventure Aquarium as vice president and executive director, and positions at the New Jersey State Aquarium, the Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Ohio, and SeaWorld Florida. He has developed multiple research ventures and overseen large construction and renovation projects. 
CREATING LESS STATIC:While static buildup on playground surfaces may seem to be just an annoyance, to those who depend on certain electronic devices like cochlear implants, the effects can be serious. So Forever- Lawn has introduced Playground Grass Ultra, the only playground surface featuring the new XStatic technology, which greatly reduces the static buildups and shocks that can damage the external transmitter on these electronic devices. The surface has performed successfully for months at its first installation at Largo Central Park in Largo, Maryland. 
WHAT IN BLUE BLAZES?: Benchmark Games recently debuted its new game, “Blue Blazes,” at the Roller Skating Association & International Laser Tag Association convention in Orlando. When playing the game, players try to drop balls into targets on a spinning wheel, and hitting a target causes the game to award tickets. The convenient pullout ticket drawer holds 18,000 tickets, and the cabinet’s internal workings are easily accessible through a large swing-out door. The game’s colorful lights are LEDs, leading to long-lasting service. 
DRIPPING LEAF: Waterplay Solutions has introduced the Waterleaf, a water sprayer with grooved tracks that make it mimic the look of a giant frond. Standing some 10 feet high, it drips water softly off the partially opaque Waterleaf onto persons standing below.