This is a petition to Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as its owner company Parques Reunidos and subsidiary Palace Entertainment, to save the ride The Kangaroo from destruction during refurbishment announced on November 3, 2020.

The Kangaroo has been operating at Kennywood since 1962, designed by John Norman Bartlett, who was a British World War 1 pilot and also famously created the bobsled-like Flying Turns type of roller coaster.  Currently, The Kangaroo is very last Bartlett coaster of its kind operating anywhere in the world.  Its unique novelty to amusement park enthusiasts and casual visitors alike give The Kangaroo immeasurable value to potential tourists and lifelong Pittsburgh residents.

Additionally, the park’s main mascot has been Kenny Kangaroo since 1974.  The removal of an attraction with a similar name would pose a hit to marketing and branding that appeals to the nostalgia of generations of loyal patrons.

The Kangaroo also provides appeal as an attraction that can truly be enjoyed by those of all ages; parents can comfortably fit alongside their smaller children, while accompanying them on other small rides can be cramped or even painful.  The ride provides a gentle “hop” and “glide” that is enjoyed by all, especially those who are easily nauseated or frightened by other thrill rides but also do not want to be confined to “kiddie” rides.

There are many spaces for Kennywood to relocate The Kangaroo within the park if needed, including numerous sparsely-used picnic pavilions.  Preserving the history and nostalgia of this attraction would be highly meaningful to residents of Pittsburgh who visit the park and enjoy this attraction year after year.