Wed
Sep 20 2006
06:47 am
"Funsphere"
By: bizgrrl

A new, good idea!

With the Sunsphere, we still have the chance for our shared public symbol to serve and reflect us all. Since it looks like citizens are going to be paying for this public symbol one way or another, we must be sure its use is of the highest civic value.

I propose we rename it the "Funsphere' and make it a creative learning center, along with restaurant and observation levels. Let's work together to build a top-notch children's museum and interactive discovery center for kids of all ages, where area and regional schools can enjoy visiting once or twice a year.

.

Now is the time for citizens who believe in Knoxville to claim our shared symbol. And who better to claim it for and demonstrate our community's values than for the children?

Contact city officials, attend council meetings, talk to neighbors and encourage the city not to accept any proposal which fails to reflect Knoxville's highest values and the Sunsphere's highest potentials.

I say let's go for it.

Topics:
Frank's picture

This is really stupid. With

Submitted by Frank (not verified) on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 8:03am.

This is really stupid. With a restaurant and observation level this would leave a few thousand square feet in a circle on a couple of floors. We have a childrens discovery museum board and they are shooting a little higher than this.

bizgrrl's picture

Yeah, well inform us. What

Submitted by bizgrrl on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 8:43am.

Yeah, well inform us. What "higher" children's discovery museum are you shooting for? What part of town? Timeframe? Thanks.

JaHu's picture

"Yeah, well inform us. What

Submitted by JaHu on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 8:24pm.

"Yeah, well inform us. What "higher" children's discovery museum are you shooting for? What part of town? Timeframe? Thanks."

I don't speek for Frank, and I thought his comment was a little harsh, but this might be the type of discovery center he was referring to. Charlotte NC has a great childrens discovery center, with all kinds of activities which even adults can enjoy. Discovery Place

R. Neal's picture

I don't think anyone is

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 8:33pm.

I don't think anyone is opposed to a Discovery Center. Some are just amused that it is a component in every city project proposal.

If I recall correctly, the city suggested a Discovery Center for inclusion in RFPs for the Worlds Fair Park. The winning proposal, if I recall correctly, suggested that a better idea might be to separate the Discovery Center and put it in the (former?) Expo Center in the basement of the Holiday Inn.

If the debate is whether to "shoot high" or to "shoot low", well, there you go.

JaHu's picture

Some are just amused that it

Submitted by JaHu on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 10:08pm.

Some are just amused that it is a component in every city project proposal.

I can see their point. If every city had a center, similar to the one in Charlotte, it wouldn't be much of a tourist draw, and I don't know if Knoxville is populated enough to sustain enough traffic to keep one open. Knoxville is growing but, something of that magnitude would constantly need to be revamped to keep the populus interested, and that could get expensive.

R. Neal's picture

I think the amusement not

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 10:26pm.

I think the amusement stems not from whether it would be a draw or sustainable or what it would cost, but rather that it makes every single project "for the children."

Number9's picture

I think the amusement not

Submitted by Number9 on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 10:29pm.

I think the amusement not whether it would be a draw or sustainable or what it would cost, but rather that it makes every single project "for the children."

Hey, I'm not sure I like your attitude...

JaHu's picture

What other projects

Submitted by JaHu on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 11:18pm.

"but rather that it makes every single project "for the children."

What other projects do they have in the works for kids? It seems they need a few. Adults have all kinds of ammusment parks in the area; Neyland Stadium, Thompson Boling Arena, Old City, Court South, and Rush, just to name a few. Knoxville does have plenty of youth sports programs...but wait... that's for their parents to re-live their childhood dreams of making it to the majors, so I'm not certain that should count. From what I can remember as a kid in the summer, all I needed was a good place to swim, girls and a bicycle, and my body and mind was set for the summer. The winter, I just need a sled and hope that the next day would bring snow.

uh... on second thought, maybe kids don't need a discovery center, they just need to go outside!

Socialist With A Gold Card's picture

'Nooga

Submitted by Socialist With ... on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 10:28pm.

The one in Chattanooga seems to be doing OK, and they have a smaller population than Knoxville. Of course, it's right next to the aquarium and all the other cool stuff happening in downtown 'Nooga, so I guess they already have enough draws downtown to get the population interested in the district. It was one of the original anchors that helped spark the downtown revitalization, though.

--Socialist With A Gold Card

"I'm a socialist with a gold card. I firmly believe we need a revolution; I'm just concerned that I won't be able to get good moisturizer afterwards." --Brett Butler

 

djuggler's picture

Let's fire shotguns at it

Submitted by djuggler on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 11:55am.

Let's fire shotguns at it and see how many winders we can knock out!

Is it just me or does the picture of the Sunsphere in the Knoxviews logo look like the Eye of Sauron? Maybe the Deathstar slowly obliterating historic sites in Knoxville?

We could fill with water and put a giant goldfish in it! 

I do hope we find something to do with it before someone gets a mind to pull it down. I still feel it really defines the Knoxville cityscape. 

Justin's picture

Sunsphere= golden phallic

Submitted by Justin on Wed, 2006/09/20 - 12:29pm.

Sunsphere= golden phallic symbol.

Anonymous's picture

Here's Another Suggestion

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2006/09/24 - 8:29pm.
(link...)
Anonymous's picture

I think a restaurant with a

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2006/09/24 - 10:30pm.

I think a restaurant with a jazz or music bands would be more appealing to the adult crowd. It would be an interesting setting for musicians to have a gig.

Number9's picture

But what about the children?

Submitted by Number9 on Sun, 2006/09/24 - 11:01pm.

But what about the children? Sorry, seemed like the right time.

An idea that I do not like but will possibly soon be considered is the old double dip idea. Let's say you do put a "Discovery Museum for Kids in the Sunsphere". These students will come to visit on school field trips. They also go to other nearby places.

You create a quick tour of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame that would take three hours, then a break for lunch at the Riverside Tavern, a quick bus ride and then 3 more fascinating hours at the new "Discovery Museum for Kids in the Sunsphere".

The idea is that since we require children to go on school field trips to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame we could just as easily require them to split their day between two events. Tack on 35% percent more and no one would care. The kids don't have a choice in the matter.

This is a new form of taxation. Required field trips. Sadly this would be less expensive to taxpayers than some of the TIF's that are floating around.

rikki's picture

sad

Submitted by rikki on Mon, 2006/09/25 - 10:16am.

less expensive to taxpayers than some of the TIF's that are floating around

You still haven't wrapped your mind around the TIF concept, have you?

Number9's picture

I get it.

Submitted by Number9 on Mon, 2006/09/25 - 12:14pm.

You still haven't wrapped your mind around the TIF concept, have you?

I get it. I understand both the pros and cons of TIF's. EVERY project cannot have a TIF. If projects are not viable without TIF's are they viable to begin with?

rikki's picture

No, if you are using phrases

Submitted by rikki on Mon, 2006/09/25 - 12:24pm.

No, if you are using phrases like "expensive to taxpayers," you don't get it.

Number9's picture

Do you get it?

Submitted by Number9 on Mon, 2006/09/25 - 2:30pm.

No, if you are using phrases like "expensive to taxpayers," you don't get it.

My reply is here:

(link...)

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