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Dentzel Carousel Opens For The Season

Temporary swan panel at the Dentzel Carousel
TWC News
Temporary swan panel at the Dentzel Carousel

The historic Dentzel Carousel is open for the season at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte.

It’s the carousel’s 111th continuous season. 

The carousel also opens up without one of the panels which had brought protests from various members of the community, because of  the depiction of two African-American children which a number of people said was offensive and a throwback to so-called ‘pickaninny’ illustrations, which featured derogatory caricatures of black children.

There is a new panel in its place, showing a swan in flight, which is temporary until the city has a permanent panel produced.

Earlier this year the Rochester Preservation Board voted to remove the old panel, which was turned over to the Rochester Museum and Science Center. It may be part of a traveling display in the future.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.