August 2018 – Gronau Municipal Office
The corridor outside the meeting room smelled faintly of fresh paint and coffee. Lucas waited beside the door, portfolio in hand, while Emma checked her notes one last time. Through the glass, they could see the coat of arms of Gronau—the small municipality whose boundaries wrapped around Elysion Park.
"Ready?" she asked quietly.
"As we'll ever be," he said.
The door opened.
Inside, the conference table was long, neat, and covered with orderly stacks of paper. Across from them sat Mayor Andreas Falk and planner Karin Neumann, both familiar from earlier permits but never a project of this scale.
"Mr. Vermeer," the mayor said, standing to shake his hand. "It's been some time since your last visit. I understand congratulations are in order on the success of your current expansion."
"Thank you," Lucas replied, taking his seat. "The dark ride has drawn a lot of attention already. But today we're here for something a bit further ahead."
He opened his portfolio and slid a set of printed renders onto the table: the wide valley, bridges, and towers gleaming in the afternoon light. The word Sky Frontier appeared at the bottom of each page in restrained lettering.
Mayor Falk leaned forward, studying the first image. "Beautiful," he said. "But large."
"It is," Lucas admitted. "Fourteen hectares total, eleven of them new. We're looking to purchase the agricultural parcels east of the current property—here, here, and here."
He pointed to the map overlay. "It's unused farmland, sloping down toward the creek. Perfect natural terrain for what we're building."
Planner Neumann adjusted her glasses. "And what exactly is that? The document says 'thematic development with attractions and hospitality.'"
Lucas nodded. "That's the working description. It will be a new themed valley—part landscape, part architectural experience. The main structure will be a coaster integrated into the terrain, with supporting rides and restaurants. Nothing industrial, nothing that breaks the skyline. We're keeping it within noise and environmental limits."
Emma handed over a thin folder. "We've included soil studies and a preliminary environmental report. Our construction partners are experienced with water management. The area's creek will be preserved and even highlighted as part of the visual design."
The mayor flipped through the renders again. "And this is privately funded?"
"Yes," Lucas said. "Fully through park revenue and existing credit lines. No subsidy requests. We're not asking the municipality for money—only for the land sale and a fast-track on the zoning review."
Neumann frowned slightly. "Fast-track means staff overtime. You understand that comes with fees."
"Of course," Lucas said evenly. "We've budgeted for that. We just want the timeline clear. The park can't afford a two-year delay if we want to open in 2022."
The mayor looked from one render to another. "And long-term impact? Jobs? Tax income?"
Emma answered quickly. "Roughly eighty construction jobs during the main build, followed by about one hundred permanent park positions once the new area opens. Hospitality revenue alone will raise your tourism numbers by at least fifteen percent. We're happy to share forecasts if needed."
The mayor smiled. "You came prepared."
"We had to," Lucas said. "If this project is delayed, we risk losing suppliers to other contracts. And honestly, the region benefits as much as we do."
There was a short silence. The hum of a ceiling fan filled the space.
Finally, Neumann set down her pen. "Environmental clearance will take three months minimum," she said. "But if your reports check out and we don't encounter surprises, you can expect a preliminary decision before winter."
Lucas nodded. "That's all we ask."
The mayor looked up from the papers. "And this… Sky Frontier. What does the name mean?"
Lucas smiled slightly. "It's about how far people are willing to go to feel free. That's something we all understand."
Falk leaned back in his chair. "Then let's see if freedom fits in Gronau."
They shook hands.
As Lucas and Emma stepped outside, the afternoon air felt lighter. Beyond the parking lot, the distant hum of the park could be heard faintly across the fields.
Emma glanced at him. "That went better than I expected."
Lucas nodded. "They'll talk it over for weeks, but we've started the process. That's what matters."
She smiled. "So the valley begins with paperwork."
"Everything good does," he said.
They walked toward the car, the last light of August slanting across the quiet road that led back toward Elysion Park — the place that, soon enough, would need a little more earth beneath its wings.
A few days later, the design office at Elysion Park felt heavier than usual.
Blueprints and legal printouts covered the central table; red and blue sticky notes poked from every margin. The mood wasn't tense, but focused — the kind of silence that came when paperwork started to weigh more than ideas.
Emma spread out the municipality's reply on the table. "They didn't say no," she began, "but they definitely want more than what we gave them."
Lucas leaned forward, scanning the pages. "Expected. Let's go through it line by line."
Sofia, Jonas, Daan, and Mira had joined in this time — each one with a tablet or sketchpad ready. This wasn't a creative session; this was the part of building most guests would never imagine existed.
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1. Water Management
Emma pointed to the first section. "They're fine with the creek integration, but they want proof of water circulation and drainage capacity before any excavation begins. The floodplain maps show potential overflow in spring."
Jonas nodded. "That's fair. I can model a closed-loop system — same principle we use for decorative streams. The 'main waterfall' can double as an aeration point. If we add underground pumps, it'll circulate naturally."
Lucas glanced up. "Quiet operation only. No visible machinery. The water has to feel real."
"Understood," Jonas said. "I'll talk with the contractors about silenced housings."
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2. Noise and Proximity
Emma read on. "They want projected decibel levels for the coaster, especially along the ridge facing the residential area."
Daan exhaled slowly. "That's the tricky part. Launches and inversions will spike. I'll run full simulations — track height, speed, materials. We can shift the launch trenches lower into the ground if needed."
Sofia looked thoughtful. "What about visual shielding? If we design berms and trees along the ridge, they'll absorb both sound and line-of-sight."
Lucas nodded. "Do it. I'd rather shape the land than compromise the ride's energy."
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3. Emergency Access
Emma tapped another highlighted line. "The fire department is insisting on a second service road. Our current path doesn't meet width requirements for two emergency vehicles."
"Where would that fit?" Walter asked from the back of the room, arms crossed.
Sofia opened her map. "Here — a loop road behind the far ridge. It won't touch the scenic valley, just skirt along the edge. We can mask it with retaining walls and greenery."
"That adds cost," Walter noted.
"Not optional," Lucas said. "If it keeps operations running smoothly, it pays for itself."
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4. Lighting and Night Operation
Mira raised her hand slightly. "They also mention light pollution near the farmland."
Lucas turned to her. "Can you design the area lighting with directional filters? Warm tones, low intensity — everything pointed inward?"
"Already sketched it," Mira said. "Hidden LEDs under the bridge railings and façade-mounted uplights. Nothing above the tree line."
"Perfect," Lucas said. "Nighttime should feel intimate anyway, not like a stadium."
---
They moved through the rest of the list in silence: soil composition, slope angles, employee facilities. Each item found its owner — someone who would turn the bureaucratic text into a tangible solution.
After two hours, Emma finally closed her folder. "That's the lot. If we send this package within ten days, they'll fast-track us to a preliminary review before November."
Lucas leaned back, rubbing the side of his neck. "Good. That buys us time to finalize the visual plan."
Daan looked up from his sketches. "I can integrate the noise mitigation into the coaster model. The terrain actually helps — the valley acts like a natural sound bowl."
"Exactly why we chose it," Lucas said with a faint smile. "Nature is the best engineer when you listen to it."
Jonas chuckled quietly. "And the municipality just wants to make sure we listen properly."
Emma gathered the files. "I'll draft our response letter tonight. We'll frame it as cooperative — that always helps."
Lucas stood, stretching. "We're not fighting them. We're convincing them this valley belongs here."
He looked around the table — the team that had slowly learned to match his rhythm, balancing artistry with the patience of process.
Outside, the evening wind brushed past the glass windows. From here they could see cranes moving near the dark ride construction zone, sparks of welding lighting up the dusk.
"It's strange," Sofia said softly. "While we're planning the next world, the first one is already being built."
Lucas nodded. "That's how parks breathe. One dream rises while another waits its turn."
He gathered the pages into a neat stack. "Let's give this one every reason to exist."