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First environmental theme park opens in Hollywood

Come feeling happy, leave feeling inspired/doomed.

By Michael d'EstriesTue, Aug 11 2009 at 3:41 PM EST
 3

Photo: globalinheritance.org
The world's first green theme park opened earlier this month, raising fear in children everywhere that their environmentally conscious parents may sidestep Mickey Mouse in favor of polar bears. It's name? Environmentaland.
 
And there may be reason to be afraid, good children of the world. When asked what the goal of the park was, executive director Eric Ritz quipped, "to show there are no free rides in life." Jeesh. A little heavy for some kids just looking to have a good time, right? 
 
Nevertheless, there are some fun things to do at Environmentaland. Eco-friendly exhibits include an Energy Playground (with Energy Battle Royals!), a Mini-Bin Exhibit and Designing Station, a Planetarium, Desert Mini Golf Course, Recycled Paper Plane Takeoff station and Alternative Energy Golf Carts. On some days, you can even arm-wrestle a polar bear to win prizes! (Sadly, if you win, the polar bear is sent back to a melting iceberg somewhere.)
 
“When we’re placed on the Earth, we have a certain responsibility to give back or evolve in a very positive way. People go and they take and take and take and they don’t give. If that’s what we do, we’re going to be in a very bad shape very soon,” Ritz told Reuters.
 
For those excited to get a taste of this green-theme park for themselves, take solace in the fact that it may be coming your way soon. Global Inheritance, the nonprofit that came up with the idea, is planning to take the theme park on the road to malls in cities like Chicago, New York and Boise.
 
What do you think? Would you want to go to Environmentaland? 
 
MNN homepage photo: AndreasWeber/iStockphoto
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Related Topics: Environmental Education, Funny

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anonymous
Reclamation 08/21/2009 14:59 PM

Go to Environmentaland to check out Planetarium! Planetarium is a 15' x 8' geodesic dome constructed of re-used PVC pipe and covered with a quilt of recycled paper. Visitors enter Planetarium and turn a hand crank that powers a projector that illuminates the inside of the dome with an accurate representation of the night sky as seen in the northern hemisphere during winter. Planetarium is constructed entirely of re-used, recycled, and re-purposed materials. It is the first installation in a.... More

ecpdancer
ecpdancer 08/12/2009 14:59 PM

Anonymous, if you click on the word "Environmentaland" in the first paragraph (the link) it will take you to their website. They are still open and it looks like they give you directions on how to get there via public transit and other forms of transportation.

anonymous
Anonymous 08/11/2009 17:20 PM

Is environmental land still open? Where can I find out more information about this theme park and how to get there? I live in LA and would like to visit!!

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