Cidade da Criança

The Cidade da Criança (Children's City) is a Brazilian amusement park located in the center of São Bernardo do Campo, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, behind the former Vera Cruz Film Studios. It was the first theme park in Brazil[6] and in Latin America.[7] It opened on October 10, 1968.[8][4][9][10]

Cidade da Criança
Location São Bernardo do Campo
São Paulo
Brazil
Coordinates23°41′16.17″S 46°33′26.13″W
ThemePlayground
OwnerSão Bernardo do Campo City Hall[1]
General managerSao Paulo Aquarium[2]
OpenedOctober 10, 1968 (1968-10-10)
Operating seasonTuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. (BRT)[3]
Area37.742m²[4]
Attractions
Total+35[5]
Roller coasters1
WebsiteCidade da Criança
StatusOperating

It was divided into three themed areas. One of the themes is the Amazon, containing a replica of the Amazon Theatre, the Madeira-Mamoré Railroad and several other characteristic figures of the region. Among its most famous attractions, is a replica of a submarine (with 2.75 million liters of water that was the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the third overall park with this attraction[11]), a plane, the Minhocão (roller coaster), the Casa Maluca (Crazy House), among others.[9][10]

The park was built in the 1950s[12] as a studio for recording the soap opera Redenção, from TV Excelsior. Even after the end of the soap opera in 1968, visits by the public to the city continued.[13][4][14][10] This was also the first Brazilian film city.[15]

The land and area built for the recording of the soap opera Redenção were listed by the Municipal Council of Historical and Cultural Heritage in 1990.[4][14][16]

Vera Cruz Studios

Vera Cruz Studios are adjacent to the grounds of the Cidade da Criança. At the beginning of the soap opera Redenção, a city from the interior of São Paulo was built on that 37,742m² plot that had been ceded by the City Hall,[4] with a church, police station, forum, train station and some houses as requested by the script. This scene still exists, and is in the Redenção region.[15]

After the end of the recordings, the land was returned to City Hall, and soon after, then Mayor Aldino Pinotti entered into a public-private partnership for the addition of attractions.[6]

Closing

Attendance peaked in the 70's and 80's,[4] after which the park went into decline, suffering from competition from Playcenter and Hopi Hari,[9][1] was reformed in 1970 and had a period of expansion from 1971 to 1976.[17] In 2005 it was closed by the São Bernardo do Campo City Hall due to lack of security and lack of equipment maintenance;[9] the town hall was planning to make the park an educational site.[13][9][6] At the time of closing, several attractions managed by third parties were in poor condition.

The project to transform Cidade da Criança into an educational park suffered some setbacks, as the São Paulo State Court of Auditors rejected the resources proposed from the Department of Education, given that the space was not built from a pedagogical project. As a result, the city intended to launch a concession bid for the operation and maintenance of the park.[18]

Closure due to Coronavirus

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Mayor Orlando Morando closed the Cidade da Criança and other municipal parks on March 21, 2020,[19] until October 10, 2020, with security protocols.[20]

Reopening

The park was reopened to the public on January 17, 2010.[9] At this time, the cable car and submarine attractions were still closed.[18]

The park has been widely criticized by the press and visitors during its reopening.[4] Having been closed for renovations for five years, the public expected to find a completely new park, which did not materialize. On the day of the park's reopening, more than 20,000 visitors were surprised by the absence of attractions: only 18 were available.[21][1] On the same day of the inauguration, the simulator was closed because the air conditioner broke down.

Facing criticism, the then Mayor Luiz Marinho proposed a project to open new attractions by the end of that year. The project, almost completed by the city government, would bring new attractions to the park by December.[22]

The new attractions are: Minhocão (mini roller coaster), 'Splash', elevator, 'Ferrari Carousel', bumper car, 'Twist', ferris wheel, among others.[9]

"Mirim Town Hall"

Together with the City Hall of São Bernardo do Campo, "Mayor Mirim" elections are held in the Cidade da Criança.[23] This town hall is a project for 4th to 5th grade students elementary school (from public or private schools[24]). When a child is elected, they will participate in the administration of the park.[25] The mandate is voluntary and lasts for a biennium.[24]

Assignments

The attributions of the Mayor Mirim are:[26][24]

  • Know, through the Department of Tourism and Events of São Bernardo do Campo, relevant actions related to the Cidade da Criança;
  • Attend quarterly meetings with the staff of the São Bernardo do Campo Department of Tourism and Events and present suggestions from residents and users;
  • Read and forward emails from residents and park users with proposals, suggestions and complaints about Cidade da Criança park, as briefly as possible, to the Tourism and Events Department;
  • At the end of his term, present a report on his experience as Mayor Mirim of Cidade da Criança.
Benefits

The benefits are:[24]

  • The ability to invite five friends a month to the park;
  • Your own institutional email;
  • The possibility to accompany the Department of Tourism in events related to the park.

Incident

On July 24, 2019, Ilma Pereira, who was next to her six-year-old daughter,[27] dropped 1.5m (4,9 feet) high from the children's roller coaster "Brocumela",[28][29][30] which reaches a maximum height of 5 meters (16 feet).[31] According to witnesses, she would have passed out.[28] Sao Paulo Fire Department and SAMU were called at 11:10 (BRT).[30] She was referred to the Mario Covas Hospital (Santo André), with entrance at 12:30 (BRT)[30] and the death was reported by the institution around 14:20 (BRT).[32] According to the hospital, Ilma had cranial polytrauma.[32][33][31] A report from the Santo André Legal Medical Institute indicates that the cause of death was head trauma.[34] Ilma hit her head three times on the toy's support beams before falling to the floor.[30][29][28]

In a Notice published on Instagram[35] the park gave solidarity to the victim's family, which "awaits expert and medical reports to clarify the incident" and that in "50 years of history, this is the first incident recorded in the Cidade da Criança."[32][31][29]

The police investigated whether the park had an emergency structure and according to São Bernardo do Campo's 1st DP holder, until July 25, 2019 the park had not presented a safety report.[30] The Civil Police inspected the attraction and the City Hall of São Bernardo do Campo reported that the park had the Fire Department Surveyor to operate[29] and it meets all operating standards. However, the park kept the roller coaster out of operation until the causes of the incident are clarified.[28][27]

Ilma Pereira was veiled on July 26, 2019.[29] Delegate Alberto José Mesquita Alves, from the 1st Police District of São Bernardo, cited the need for eventual investigation of manslaughter.[34]

References
  1. "Clássico, parque Cidade da Criança no ABC completa 50 anos repaginado, com novas atrações e uma Fazendinha" [Classic, Cidade da Criança park at ABC celebrates its 50th anniversary with new attractions and a little farm] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  2. "Modelo é ruim, diz gestor da Cidade da Criança em SBC" [Model is bad, says manager of Cidade da Criança in SBC] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  3. "Cidade da Criança/Aquário de SP" [Cidade da Criança/São Paulo Aquarium] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  4. "Cidade da Criança sobrevive há 48 anos, mas deixa de ser cartão de visita no ABC" [Cidade da Criança has survived for 48 years, but is no longer a business card at ABC] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  5. "Cidade da Criança no ABC" [Cidade da Criança in ABC] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  6. "Sucesso nos anos 70, o parque Cidade da Criança passa por reforma" [Success in the 70's, the Cidade da Criança park undergoes renovation] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  7. "Cidade da Criança de São Bernardo reabre com 21 novos brinquedos" [São Bernardo Cidade da Criança reopens with 21 new rides] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  8. Coluna Memória, do jornal Diário do Grande ABC, de 10 de outubro de 2008.
  9. "Cidade da Criança: o primeiro parque temático do Brasil" [Cidade da Criança: Brazil's first theme park] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 25, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  10. "Parque Cidade da Criança" [Park Cidade da Criança] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  11. "Submarino da Cidade da Criança, atração símbolo do parque, é reinaugurado" [Cidade da Criança submarine, attraction symbol of the park, is reopened] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  12. "Cidade da Criança continua a encantar gerações" [Cidade da Criança continues to delight generations] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  13. "Cidade da Criança vai virar parque educativo" [Cidade da Criança will become an educational park] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  14. "Cidade da Criança" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  15. "Crianças brincam em 'cidade cenográfica'" [Kids play in 'scenic city'] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  16. "Lei 3496/90 – Lei nº 3496 de 01 de junho de 1990" [Law nº 3496 from June 1, 1990] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  17. "Mais fotos antigas da Cidade da Criança de São Bernardo" [More old photos of the Cidade da Criança of São Bernardo] (in Portuguese). October 12, 2019. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  18. "Prefeitura de São Bernardo reabre Cidade da Criança ao público em 17 de janeiro" [São Bernardo City Hall reopens Cidade da Criança to the public on January 17] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  19. Leandro Baldini (March 21, 2020). "Prefeito Orlando Morando fecha Cidade da Criança, parques e Praça Lauro Gomes" [Mayor Orlando Morando closes Cidade da Criança, parks and Lauro Gomes Square] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  20. "Cidade da Criança retoma atividades a partir deste sábado (10)" [Cidade da Criança resumes activities from this Saturday (10)] (in Portuguese). October 9, 2020. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  21. "Cidade da Criança é reaberta em São Bernardo do Campo" [Cidade da Criança is reopened in São Bernardo do Campo] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  22. "Cidade da Criança de São Bernardo reabre com 21 novos brinquedos" [São Bernardo Cidade da Criança reopens with 21 new toys] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  23. "Concurso Prefeito Mirim Cidade da Criança" [Mayor Mirim Cidade da Criança Contest] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  24. "EDITAL DE INSCRIÇÃO PARA PREFEITO MIRIM DO PARQUE CIDADE DA CRIANÇA DE SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO" [APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION FOR PREFECT MIRIM OF THE PARK CIDADE DA CRIANÇA OF SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO] (PDF) (in Portuguese). p. 40. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  25. "Menina de 9 anos é eleita prefeita mirim da Cidade da Crianças" [9-year-old girl is elected mayor of the Cidade da Criança] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  26. "DAS ATRIBUIÇÕES DO PREFEITO MIRIM" [Of the attributions of Mayor Mirim] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  27. "Confira nota oficial sobre acidente na Cidade da Criança em São Bernardo do Campo" [Check out official note about accident in the Cidade da Criança in São Bernardo do Campo] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  28. "Em S.Bernardo, mulher morre ao cair de brinquedo na Cidade da Criança" [In S.Bernardo, woman dies after falling from a toy in Cidade da Criança] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  29. "Corpo de mulher morta em acidente em parque de diversões é velado em São Bernardo do Campo" [Woman killed in accident at amusement park is veiled in São Bernardo do Campo] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  30. "Polícia investiga se parque no ABC tinha estrutura para emergência" [Police investigate whether park at ABC had emergency structure] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  31. "Mulher morre após cair de brinquedo na Cidade da Criança, no ABC" [Woman dies after falling from a toy in Cidade da Criança, ABC]. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  32. "Mulher morre ao cair de brinquedo em parque de diversões, diz família" [Woman dies after falling from a toy in amusement park, says family] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  33. "Mulher morre após cair de montanha-russa infantil em São Bernardo do Campo" [Woman dies after falling from a children's roller coaster in Sao Bernardo do Campo] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  34. "Mulher que caiu de brinquedo na Cidade da Criança morreu de traumatismo craniano" [Woman who fell toy in the Cidade da Criança died of head injury] (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  35. "Comunicado" (in Portuguese). Retrieved July 26, 2019.
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