Man dreams up zombie theme park in Detroit

DETROIT, July 9 (UPI) -- A Michigan man said he is trying to raise $145,000 to build a zombie apocalypse theme park in Detroit.

Marc Siwak, 40, said he is looking to buy or lease abandoned property to host Z World Detroit, a theme park that would be primarily comprised of a paintball-like game where players try to "kill" hoards of actors portraying the undead before they are bitten and join the zombie swarms, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday.

Siwak said he hopes his plan will help revitalize the struggling city.

"I think we have a great opportunity to do something unique. Can't we do something more creative than just walking away from chunks of the city?" he said.

Siwak said his online fundraising efforts at www3.indiegogo.com/zworlddetroit will continue until Aug. 10.

"Realistically, it needs to attract a local developer," he said. "We're just some people with an idea."

However, mayoral spokeswoman Naomi Patton responded negatively to an e-mailed question about whether the city's Planning and Development Department would consider such a project to be a suitable means of land use.

"No. And the city has no additional comment on this proposal," Patton said.