Far beyond the bright lights of New York City, is a beautiful rural landscape often featured in the iconic “I Love NY” tourism campaign. But hidden in many of those picturesque landscapes is economic uncertainty. Just 65 miles from “the City”, 44% of Orange County households live either in poverty (13%) or living paycheck to paycheck* (30%), their highest rate in over 10 years. Neighboring counties are similarly challenged – 47% of Delaware County and 45% of Sullivan County households either live below the poverty line or are living paycheck to paycheck.
It’s within this challenging economic landscape (and during COVID) that LEGOLAND NY was constructed. The largest LEGOLAND park in the world features seven themed lands, including Miniland, LEGO City, and Adventure, with attractions like the Dragon Coaster and the LEGO Factory Adventure Ride.
The grand opening was delayed by COVID, but LEGOLAND NY is turning into economic engine in a region that sorely needs them, employing 1,300 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs, and bringing visitors to the region to spend money not only at LEGOLAND NY but also in Goshen and elsewhere.
“At Elsie’s Luncheonette nearby, Aimee Smith-Bywater said she had to take reservations for the first time in the restaurant’s history — a welcome lift ‘after the horrific year we had,’ she said.”
“Who Wouldn’t Want a $500 Million Theme Park in Their Town?” New York Times.
Local government and institutions will benefit as well. A PILOT agreement will contribute $10.3 million to hosting Orange County, $11.65 million to the hosting town Goshen, $60.56 million to Goshen schools and $5.73 million to the fire department over 20 years.
The quiet hero in this story is infrastructure. LEGOLAND NY could not exist and could not thrive unless adjacent roads were updated to accommodate the influx of up to 2,000,000 visitors a year. The infrastructure project included improvements to Route 17, such as the construction of a new Exit 125 overpass to handle increased traffic. This involved lane widening, new signage, and shoulder work to ensure smooth access to the park. The total cost of these road improvements was approximately $40 million, paid for by a combination of state and federal funding.
More economic engines are needed in this quiet corner of New York to create job opportunities, spur local spending that supports local businesses, and generate revenue that bolster local municipalities’ budgets. To support such growth, more infrastructure investment is needed, and widening the 45 mile stretch of Route 17 between Wallkill and Monticello will help. The Route 17 Widening Project has support from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Governor Hochul and will add lanes, improve interchanges, and improve safety.
From shipping ports to railroad to highways, infrastructure has proven time and time again to improve the economic fortunes of those nearby. Just like LEGOLAND NY and the infrastructure built to support it, widening Route 17 will have the same effect for this quiet region of New York plagued with rural poverty.
* The United Way defines people living paycheck to paycheck as ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
Sources
- “Poverty in NY”. New York State Community Action Association. https://www.nyscommunityaction.org/poverty-reports
- ALICE Project. United Way of New York State. https://uwnys.org/alice/
- New York – UnitedForALICE. United Way. https://www.unitedforalice.org/new-york
- “Legoland NY nears completion, but challenges abound, including when state will let it open”. Times Herald-Record. https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2020/10/19/facing-high-hurdles-future-legoland-new-york-approaches-completion/3678837001/?form=MG0AV3
- “LEGOLAND New York: By The Numbers.” Empire State Development. https://esd.ny.gov/esd-media-center/esd-blog/legoland-new-york-numbers?form=MG0AV3
- “Multi-Million Tax Break For Lego Land Owner Gets Green Light”. Daily Voice-Monroe. https://dailyvoice.com/ny/monroe/news/multi-million-tax-break-for-lego-land-owner-gets-green-light/722493/
- “Who Wouldn’t Want a $500 Million Theme Park in Their Town?” New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/nyregion/legoland-goshen-new-york.html
- “Transforming Goshen, NY into a Thriving Tourism Hub”. Orange County Industrial Development Agency. https://www.ocnyida.com/case-study-legoland/
