Fun Park was opened in 1994. This was the world’s very first Fun Park. Today there are four others. They are in Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Hungary and Chile.
The idea for this park came from John DeBurre, a pensioner who has lived in this area all his life. Each summer, John goes overseas for two months. He has done this for 40 years and has now seen 50 countries. During these trips he became interested in the earth and its people. He wanted to share what he had seen with others. He wanted to make the world a smaller place.
It came to him on a day he took his grandchildren to an amusement park. He saw them having fun. They were laughing and their eyes shone with excitement. It was then that he had his idea. He would build an amusement park to pass on his message.
He was excited about his plans and his ideas grew and grew. It is thanks to him that Fun Park was created.
Visitors from all over the world come to this park. They can see African elephants and learn about the stars. They can hear Mexican music and talk on the Internet to someone in Malaysia.
Fun Park gives half of its profits to people in poor countries. It’s given many millions of dollars to charity since it opened.
“In a Fun Park, there are no strangers,” says Mr DeBurre. “We’re all good neighbours.”