Fun City adventure park in Algonquin abruptly closed after an Illinois Department of Labor inspection identified multiple violations, citing unsafe equipment and construction, according to state and village records.
The Department of Labor identified numerous defects in many attractions at the recently opened indoor amusement park, including improper harness attachments, unpadded metal obstructions and multiple frame supports that appeared improperly welded, according to labor documents. inspection.
After an inspection on February 28, the state issued a shutdown order, the village suspended Fun City's temporary occupancy permit the next day, and the amusement park closed the next day, March 1, according to the archives.
The Northwest Herald obtained the state inspection reports and related documents and emails through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Village of Algonquin.
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THE The indoor children's amusement park, located at 215 S. Randall Road, abruptly closed two weeks after opening in February. The business, which offers attractions such as arcade games, trampolines, a foam pit and a zip line, had opened on February 16, according to its Facebook page.
Fun City made no mention of any permitting issues in its latest Facebook post, saying it had been “temporarily” closed and would announce a “grand reopening soon.”
The message read: “As we are in our soft opening phase, we will take this time to make improvements, including a new arcade, to ensure a top-notch experience for all of our jumpers.”
A representative for Fun City could not be reached for comment. Department of Labor and village officials said they have not received any updates from Fun City on a possible reopening.
“At this time, we don't know if they will close permanently or if they will attempt to meet the state's requirements for entertainment devices,” said Patrick Knapp, Algonquin community development director.
Nearly all attractions had inadequate padding and containment netting, including dodgeball, basketball, trampoline and soccer areas, Department of Labor inspector Zoel Jones wrote in the documents of the report.
“The basketball frame base does not appear to meet welding or structural standards,” he wrote in inspection documents.
The zipline attraction appeared to have loosely secured metal cables, while the ropes course harnesses and carabiners appeared to be “substandard” and did not meet requirements, with the attraction appearing to be loosely secured with “multiple bolts which were loosening.” according to state inspection reports.
Fun City Adventure Park opened and operated without a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Labor's Rides and Attractions Safety Division, Paul Cicchini, public information officer for the Department of Labor, told the Northwest Herald shortly after Fun City closed.
A village sign posted on the business's door last month read: “Not approved for occupancy.” »
Another inspection by village property maintenance inspector Kory Hintzsche on Feb. 23 found multiple “safety and sanitation issues” and called on Fun City to address those concerns. here the next day, according to village records.
“Several areas of the facility contain rubber mat shavings, scraps and dust that pose a threat to the health and safety of customers. All areas of broken tiles must be replaced,” Hintzsche said in the letter.
Fun City operator Jun Zhang has more than 20 locations in several states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut.
