Bluebird Gap Farm – The Virginian-Pilot

Hampton is considering a new option to relocate the more than 100-year-old historic Hampton Carousel — a 60-acre farm located about 4 miles from it’s current location.

City spokesperson Robin McCormick updated the City Council Wednesday on the public’s feedback on what to do with the carousel, which is currently closed and in need of repairs.

The public was largely unenthusiastic about options the city presented for relocation of the carousel, with many preferring for it to remain at its current waterfront site next to the Virginia Air and Space Science Center. But during the public feedback process, some residents suggested a new option — moving the carousel to Bluebird Gap Farm, a park and petting zoo located at 60 Pine Chapel Road.

Tom Tingle, architect and president of Guernsey Tingle, discussed two potential ways Bluebird Gap Farm could serve as the new home for the carousel.

One location — called option 5A — would be at the park’s entrance, which would give the carousel visibility near Pine Chapel Road and Power Plant Parkway. Tingle said this location would allow the carousel and surrounding area to be used as special event space without disrupting the farm’s operations. The farm has around 150 domestic and wild animals and features a playground, a stage and a covered pavilion with 18 picnic tables and a large charcoal grill.

In addition, this location would allow the carousel to operate later in the evening — outside of farm hours — and could serve as an “iconic identity” for the farm’s entrance, Tingle said.

However, this location would require building site infrastructure — such as access, utilities and site construction — at a cost of about $2.8 million. Furthermore, if the city added parking and restrooms, it would cost an additional $225,000 and $250,000, respectively, bringing this option up to about $3.3 million.

Another option — 5B — was to have the carousel inside the farm. This would give it accessibility to farm visitors (40,000 people have visited so far this year). Infrastructure would already be in place, and there would be some potential to share staff with Bluebird Farm’s operations.

The downside to moving the carousel inside the farm would be that it would have to operate within farm hours and there is concern about a potential mismatch of character and theming between the farm and the carousel, according to Tingle. In addition, option 5B would cost about $2.56 million.

Last month, the city held a forum at the Hampton Roads Convention Center where people could weigh in on the future of the carousel. About 60 people attended in person and an additional 800 people tuned into a Facebook live meeting.

“The vast majority of people said it should belong in its current location,” McCormick told the council.

The Downtown Hampton Development Partnership wants the council to move the historic structure to make room for a more extensive waterfront park known as Riverfront Park. The park could include more green space, a better water view, or allow for a new market and restaurants. Furthermore, city officials said the carousel’s current location is prone to flooding, and the carousel building would need to be moved or elevated to avoid rising waters.

McCormick said the public was “pretty clear” in wanting to keep the carousel where it is at 602 Settlers Landing Road. It would cost $316,800 to repair the carousel where it stands. It would cost $2.5 million for a new building — with higher elevation — at the current location.

Residents felt the carousel, Hampton History Museum, and Virginia Air and Space Museum provided a “triple draw” for that area of the city, McCormick said. They said it makes the area ideal for school trips and families and makes the downtown area a unique place that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

McCormick said residents wondered why the Downtown Hampton Development Partnership did not have a plan to incorporate the carousel into their plans for Riverfront Park. In addition, citizens wondered why they couldn’t have both a carousel and a market area.

Some residents liked the idea of bringing the carousel back to Buckroe Beach, where the carousel stood until 1985, as they liked the sentiment of having the attraction be “where it began.” It would cost $2.8 million to relocate the carousel to Buckroe Beach with a new building. But there were concerns about the ride withstanding salt, sand, wind and wet bathing suits — elements that could bring wear and tear to the carousel.

A proposal to spend $2.51 million to relocate the carousel to Mill Point Park in downtown Hampton was unpopular, with some commenters calling it a “ridiculous” or “horrid” location.

“I can honestly tell you I have not heard a single person speak up for this,” McCormick told the council. “I know downtown Hampton suggested it, but no comment on Facebook in any way, shape or form liked the Mill Point idea.”

McCormick said near the end of the Facebook live stream, some commenters asked if Bluebird Gap Farm had been considered as a location for the carousel.

From the public’s perspective, McCormick said the city would like the downtown partnership to consider designing a plan that includes the carousel in Riverfront Park. But she said the city could also study the feasibility of moving the carousel to Bluebird Gap Farm.

City Manager Mary Bunting said she would like to give the public more time to consider what to do with the carousel, with Bluebird Gap Farm as a new option. She said she would like to schedule a public comment on the idea in June after the city has finished the budget process for the upcoming fiscal year.

Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com.