Fond Memories

We Had Something Special There

Vince,

Thank you for your wonderful website and for the book on “the park.” I believe it was about 10 years ago I received a copy at a party at the restaurant “Memories” for those who worked at the park. My father Vincent Porzio Sr. worked for 40 years at the park. He ran 3 stands there. I was born in ‘57 and as long as I can remember, he brought me there during days off of school & then summer recess. 

Looking back, before hijackings, terrorists & children not even being allowed to play in their own yard, you realize that we had something special there. A park that was our own & one that we could run free in. I remember being 8 years old and my dad would let me have my freedom walking around the park. He would give me a couple of “bucks” to eat and play some games and then something I believe was a gold card to get on all the rides for free. For an 8 year old boy, I felt that I was the most important person on earth. My dad’s friends who worked there all knew me and always had a kind word for me. Flight to mars, wild mouse & wild cat were among my favorite rides. The great stage in the back is where I would sit for hours watching bands like “The 5th Dimension” and then spend an hour or more in the funhouse. Those special fries, dogs & ice cream cones were something I would dream about until the next day. In the world we live in today, it’s a shame that our children can’t experience the joys of having something so special as Palisades Amusement Park. Even if we’re in a somewhat safe environment as Disneyworld, we still can’t let our young ones out of our sight. Back then there was also bad things happening around us, but for a while, we had something so special in Cliffside Park. It was our own backyard play land and yes it was a privilege to grow up there and soak up everything the park had to offer. Your book & website conjures up memories of sights & smells and for that I want to thank you. I now live in Georgia with my own family, but your book is on our coffee table showing our family & friends the gift we had in Palisades Amusement Park.

Thank You,

Vincent Porzio