A pathology of Mashhad’s Mellat amusement park

The gradual death of a dream

Written by: Mohsen Saraji Art director and theme park designer

Creating an amusement park is not just building a place that is understood by its area, activities, and games inside it. The amusement park on its own scale, in its location, represents a view of a bigger city that surrounds us. An amusement park is an example of an entertainment-oriented view of the city. Therefore, a review of the operation model, equipment, and identity of Mellat amusement park, with More than 50 years old, as a theme park and entertainment in accordance with the identity of the religious city of Mashhad is necessary.

Despite the variety of rides, attractions, entertainment, and food services in Mellat amusement park, paying attention and reviewing the main two layers of "physic" and "function" of Mellat amusement park is essential.

According to some audiences, Mellat amusement park is no more a place to create an experience and a space for having fun, but a warehouse of broken play equipment which is filled with popcorn stalls and carnival games to rub the money off their customers! This is the sad destiny of the amusement park that generations of pilgrims and nearby citizens made unforgettable memories with, and you can still find their nostalgic photos with the so-called fanfare or the old merry-go-round of the amusement park in their old albums!

According to some audiences, Mellat amusement park is no more a place to create an experience and a space for having fun, but a warehouse of broken play equipment which is filled with popcorn stalls and carnival games to rub the money off their customers!

Mashhad Municipality organization, as the owner of Mellat amusement park, every year and regardless of the social needs of the amusement park audience, and regardless of paying attention to the recreation of this strategic urban space hands it over to someone who pays more money through public auctions. This is the beginning of a tragedy for one of the oldest amusement parks in Mashhad Therefore, it is suggested that the current conditions of the amusement park be considered by managers and decision-makers based on these five main perspectives:

• Analysis of the master plan and movement circulation of the amusement park.
• Lack of readability and legibility of main entrances and exit gates.
• Lack of a proper mechanism for the arrangement of rides, attractions, services, and zoning of the amusement park in accordance with the function and audience of the amusement park.
• Lack of the main safety indicators of rides and attractions and general standards for the amusement park.
• Lack of transparency of the financial system and analysis of human and functional data of the amusement park.
• Lack of an appropriate cultural connection to the performance of the amusement park in the religious city of Mashhad.

Analysis of the master plan and movement circulation of the amusement park

Unfortunately, due to the variety of tastes of the amusement park operators in the past and the placement of various rides and services in the park, the main master plan of the amusement park has faced illegibility, lack of spatial clarity, chaos, and disorder which results in "Lack of balance and harmony in the appropriateness of spaces and services for users" and "audience confusion" in the park.

Lack of readability and legibility of main entrances and exit gates

One of the most important elements in amusement parks is the definition of "entrances and exits of amusement parks" as an element inviting the audience to the park and a space to record memories for guests. Mellat amusement park faces deficiency in two "western" and "southern" entrances compared to other national and international amusement parks.

Lack of a proper mechanism for the arrangement of rides, attractions, services, and zoning of the amusement park in accordance with the function and audience of the amusement park.

One of the useful indicators of the financial efficiency of amusement parks is paying attention to three layers of "arrangement of rides and attractions", "food and beverage services" and "thematic zoning" of amusement parks according to the "physical aspect" and "audience of the amusement park". Having this explanation in mind, it seems that Mellat amusement park does not have proper zoning.

Creating an amusement park is not just building a place that is understood by its area, activities, and games inside it. The amusement park on its own scale, in its location, represents a view of a bigger city that surrounds us.

Lack of the main safety indicators of rides and attractions and general standards for the amusement park

In the past, Mellat amusement park was the only amusement park that obtained a "standard certificate" for the entire amusement park. Unfortunately, it does not have this certificate for the entire amusement park now. However, regardless of the requirement to obtain a standard level for each ride and attraction, it is evident that other spaces and services do not have minimum safety and health requirements!

Lack of transparency of the financial system and analysis of human and functional data of the amusement park.

One of the most important weaknesses of Mellat amusement park is the lack of an integrated and transparent operating system that simultaneously provides financial information, audience performance, incentive packages, online reservations, and effective customer service on an integrated platform. Obviously, this system would increase the financial efficiency of the amusement park by 15% and facilitates the basic decision-making system for managers.