MANSFIELD — The Richland Carrousel Park’s nostalgic charm, brightly colored building and whimsical music has made it a beloved staple of downtown Mansfield.
But when it first opened three decades ago, much of the community was skeptical.
“It’s hard to explain to people who weren’t here for it … the bold, visionary action that it took from both private investors and developers and also city administrators to move forward with the plan,” recalled Jennifer Kime, executive director of Downtown Mansfield Inc. “It was unpopular in a lot of ways at the time, but there was a huge vision that the Carrousel was a key part of.”
Prior to its arrival, downtown Mansfield had a drastically different image. The historic storefronts were in decline and today’s Carrousel District was known mostly for its bars and crime.
“Downtown was anything but family-friendly. It was a very dramatic proposal,” Kime said.
Lee Tasseff arrived in Mansfield for a job in the tourism bureau in October 1990, just months before Richland Carrousel Park opened.
“When I got here, the carrousel was a hole in the ground,” he said. “They were working on the foundation.”
Tasseff also remembers the tension surrounding its opening. Like Kime, he believes it’s been a positive force for change in the area.
“I think it’s probably underrated in most people’s minds. When you’re around it all the time, you don’t think as much about it,” he said. “Its job was to help rebuild downtown and build positive momentum in that area and it did.”
According to Kime, the carrousel and Richland Academy of the Arts were the first two main projects in downtown’s evolution.
Today, downtown Mansfield is home to multiple shops, restaurants and events like First Friday Shop Hops and Final Friday concerts.
The carrousel continues to be a community anchor.
“Providing that first impression of downtown Mansfield to families is hugely important,” Kime said. “It really helps build the reputation of downtown Mansfield as a place that’s clean and safe and family friendly.”
Part of the carrousel’s appeal — both to locals and visitors — is its novelty.
“This is something we have that nobody else does,” Tasseff said. “From the day they opened and started tracking where people came from, they were all over the country from the first week they were open.”
The carrousel continues to see an influx of out-of-towners to this day, executive director Sharon Bishop said.
“Since we’ve reopened, we’re getting a lot more people from out-of-town and out-of-state,” Bishop said. “I don’t think people realize what an asset we have here. A lot of people still don’t know we’re here.”
When Richland Carrousel Park opened in August 1991, it was the first new, hand-carved carousel to be built and operated in the United States since the 1930s.
The carrousel features 30 horses and 22 menagerie figures. Those figures include four bears, four ostriches, four cats, four rabbits, a goat, a giraffe, a lion, a tiger, a zebra and a mythical hippocampus (part horse, part fish).
The carrousel figures were carved in the style of G.A. Dentzel, one of the most revered carvers of the early 1900s. All 52 figures were designed, carved and painted by Carousel Works of Mansfield. Carrousel Works also restored the antique rounding boards, mirrors and mural frames.
The scenery panels atop the carrousel present a colorful homage to Mansfield’s past and present, with images of Malabar Farm, Kingwood Center, Oak Hill Cottage and other attractions.
Bishop has managed the park for a decade. Her favorite part is seeing the joy it brings to children and families.
“They come in and their face lights up and they get to choose what kind of animal they ride on,” she said. “You watch them laugh and have a good time.”
Bishop has seen riders of all ages take advantage of the carrousel — a 101-year-old man recently celebrated his birthday there.
“Grown-ups ride it and all of a sudden they’re 6 years old,” she added.
In addition to offering merry-go-round rides, the carrousel also hosts public events and private parties like birthdays, wedding showers and corporate events.
Next month’s “Touch a Truck” offers children the chance to climb inside speciality vehicles and ask questions.
On the evening of Oct. 1, the carrousel will run backwards — and anyone wearing a costume will get a free ride.
The Christmas open house will take place on Nov. 20. The carrousel is also the locale for Christmas in the City on Dec. 3.
Bishop said the last year has been financially rough on Richland Carrousel Park, which operates as a non-profit.
“Right now we need (the community’s) help more than ever” she said. “We are here and we need them to come out and support us. This is meant for them and their family and their friends to enjoy.
“We hope to be here for at least 30 more years plus.”