Remember when those big archways with red drapes on them were erected all around New York City's Central Park in 2005? I remember watching the Today Show and seeing Matt Lauer walking through those red drapes (called 'panels' by the artist and promoters) and wondering what the heck was going on. An artist created the idea for what was named 'The Gates', which cost the city a bundle to install for a short amount of time. 
Everyone claimed it would boost tourism as people would want to see the 7,500 gates. I lived close to New York City at the time, and I had no desire to go check the drapes out. They looked cheap and frankly, boring. In fact, I laughed at the idea that anyone would travel any amount of distance to see them. In the end, the city claims The Gates drew 1.5 million additional visitors to Manhattan, so they're going to try again with a new artistic promotion.
This time, an artist has created an idea for four huge waterfalls to be erected around New York City, which the city claims will boost tourism. Again, I have to question the investment (for this project, the pricetag is $15 million) and the high expectations ($55 million in additional tourism revenue).
So what exactly are these waterfalls you ask? It turns out they're just free-standing scaffolding towers ranging in height from 90 to 120 feet that will use big pumps to move large amounts of water. One of the waterfalls will fall from under the Brooklyn Bridge. Visitors can even take a Circle Line boat tour out into the New York Harbor and East River to see the scaffolding waterfalls for free or at discounted prices.
So here's my question? Are short-term, major promotional investments like this worth it? Do they really drive an adequate return on investment? What do you think? Are you going to go see the four temporary waterfalls around New York City? Even if I hadn't moved away from the New York area a couple of years ago, my answer would still be no.
Waterfall Photo © Reuters
I've got a better idea...How about taking that money and using it to finally open Governors Island (http://www.nps.gov/gois) to the public and visitors. The Coast Guard sold the former military base to NYC back in 1996 and other than tours to small groups offered by the NPS, they haven't done a darn thing. Sorry for the rant, but as a former Coast Guardsman and longtime resident of the island, I think it's a shame that they haven't done anything with that beautiful place in almost a decade.
Posted by: Scott | January 19, 2008 3:46 PM | Permalink to Comment