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Date: 12/20/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The indoor amusement chain Fun City Trampoline Park received a special permit to develop a new location at 1377 Liberty St. during the council’s Dec. 12 meeting. The development will be occurring within walking distance from the already-operational trampoline park, Bounce Trampoline Sports, at 1250 St. James St.
Fun City owns 16 locations, including various trampoline parks throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. In September, Fun City Trampoline Park owner Zi Qian Zhang purchased the Liberty Street plaza, which is more commonly referred to as the Springfield Plaza, from KeyBank for $29 million.
Their purchase does not include the Springfield Registry of Motors Vehicles location at 1250 St. James or Bounce Trampoline Sports. Both entities continue to operate in the defunct Springfield Cinemas space within the plaza.
The proposed Fun City location will be 55,000 square feet and be able to host up to 300 visitors at a time. The business will operate in Springfield Plaza alongside the area’s existing businesses.
Fun City Trampoline representative Jun Zhang initially presented the special permit request during the council’s hearings meeting on Nov. 28. He said Fun City views Springfield as a viable location for expansion.
“We would like to open one here in Springfield. We think it would be a great addition to the city,” said Zhang.
Bounce Trampoline Sports representative Rob Doty spoke in opposition of Fun City’s special permit request.
“It’s a duplication of business. It’s in walking distance, basically its across the parking lot, from our location. I don’t see how this would be beneficial to the city of Springfield to have a trampoline park across the parking lot,” said Doty.
Doty said he and his business partner were unsuccessful reaching out to Fun City to discuss the development prior to the meeting.
In response, Zhang said Fun City will make an effort to meet with Bounce. He also stressed that Fun City is allowed to open near Bounce and promote open competition.
“I do believe I have a right to go into that location regardless of distance,” said Zhang.
Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton said that Fun City received approval from the Hungry Hill Neighborhood Council, but one of the conditions was that Fun City meet with Bounce.
“I’m disappointed to hear that hasn’t happened. I’ll make a motion to continue this matter to our next meeting so that their meeting can take place,” said Fenton.
The City Council continued the special permit request in a unanimous vote.
During the Dec. 12 meeting, Zhang shared that Fun City met with Bounce owners, although the meeting did not appease Bounce’s frustrations with the situation, according to Zhang.
“We have not come into any agreement,” said Zhang.
Fenton said Fun City presented a “very good plan,” and while concerns around competition remain, the council does not weight “competitive factors” for special permit requests.
“One of the results of competition in this space is that it will potentially negatively affect existing business owners. We do not have the authority as a council to decide based on competitive factors,” said Fenton.
Fenton also shared that Fun City’s special permit is contingent on following six parameters:
Zhang said he has no objections to the parameters.
The City Council ultimately approved the special permit in a unanimous vote.