Public invited for lights, Santa and music Dec. 8
Officials at Bonfante Gardens are setting financial cares aside
and inviting the neighbors over for some holiday cheer on Saturday,
Dec. 8.
Public invited for lights, Santa and music Dec. 8
Officials at Bonfante Gardens are setting financial cares aside and inviting the neighbors over for some holiday cheer on Saturday, Dec. 8.
“The whole point of this is that we were disappointed that we had to close early. But we wanted to let the community know just how much we appreciate their continued support of the park,” said Bonfante Gardens Board Member Patti Hale.
The four-hour-long event, which starts at 4 p.m., is open to the public. Parking is $2.
The lush landscape that the park is most noted for will sparkle under holiday lighting.
“We’ll have crafts activities where people can make their own ornament,” said Hale. “Santa Claus will be there – even the Grinch.”
There will also be an informal parade for any child in attendance who wishes to participate.
Rides will not be in operation for the event.
But even without the option of riding on a mushroom swing or going on a twirling garlic bulb, patrons will experience numerous activities at various non-profit booths. Hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels and hot cider will also be sold at locations throughout the park’s looping, scenic walkway.
Even local officials are getting in on the action.
Gilroy Economic Development Corporation Director Bill Lindsteadt will be on hand singing with his barbershop quartet.
The Gilroy High School Chamber Choir will also perform at the park’s main lakeside stage.
In order to pull the event off, some 90 volunteers will help with the festivities that evening.
“They just loved the park and wanted to be involved,” said Hale.
The holiday event marks a change from just a few months ago when Bonfante Gardens Board of Trustees announced the cutting of the park’s full-time workforce from 55 people to about 15.
At the time, officials also announced the canceling of a holiday schedule, which was to run from mid-December through New Year’s.
“The Board made a prudent decision,” said Bonfante Gardens General Manager Ed Hutton at the time. “Why gamble on Christmas when you’ve got to pay for more advertising, lights and worry about rain? We wanted the light show, but the reality was that we didn’t have the money.”
Although there will be lights at the December 8 event, it will be far less elaborate than originally planned.
Hutton estimated that the cost to install holiday lighting throughout the park would have run upwards of $30,000.
During the holiday celebration next week, officials are also hoping to generate some revenue for the 2003 season. Patrons will be able to purchase passes for the upcoming season.
For the last two years, season ticket holders who have bought year-round passes have not been able to use them for the duration that was promised at the time of purchase.
Park officials have not yet decided whether or how they will compensate their 22,000 2002 season ticket holders, who paid as much as $70 each for passes that they expected would last throughout the year.
The problem was handled the first year by giving a $20 discount to renew this season.
When the park originally opened in June 2001, plans called for a year-round operating schedule. But each year the park has been forced to close its gates early due to sluggish attendance and dwindling revenues.
“I don’t know the answer, but I’ll know better in 60 to 90 days,” said Hutton when asked if the park’s opening in 2003 is certain. “I can’t guarantee anything; but I will say that everything we are doing is being done to get us to next spring.”
Earlier this year, the park received an $8.5 million dollar loan – enough money to keep the park operating through 2007, according to officials at the time. But that was based on the assumption that some 500,000 patrons would attend the park this year.
“On an operating basis, we are not that much (in the red),” said Hutton in October. “But we’re looking at the long-term debt and we need those attendance figures to support it.”
Although they haven’t officially released this year’s attendance figures, it is estimated that some 430,000 went to the park this year.
While those numbers may be close to projections, the 70,000 drop in projected attendance equates to roughly a $2.1 million shortfall for the financially strapped park.
Closed since October 23, the park now operates using a skeleton staff that includes a handful of gardeners, administrators and security guards.
Bonfante Gardens was the vision and creation of Nob Hill Foods magnate Michael Bonfante, who spend 20 years developing it and sunk $100 million of his own fortune into building it.
In addition to Bonfante’s personal investment, the city of Gilroy has granted favors and concessions to help his park succeed.
After initially voting to annex the property, the Gilroy City Council has since approved $37 million in city bonds to fund the improvements for the non-profit park.
While the city has no obligation for payment of the bonds, the move helped the park because only a government agency can issue tax-exempt bonds.
From there, the council changed zoning on part of Hecker Pass to allow the potential development of 80 upscale houses along what was supposed to be a scenic highway so that the park could raise additional money to stay afloat.
The park is currently operating on an $8.5 million loan that was given to Bonfante, who was able to broker a deal with electronics retail mogul John Fry last spring.
The loan was vital to the park after it fell $10 million in debt after opening late last season and suffering construction cost overruns.
In the upcoming months, officials from the park will be looking for a company to partner with who will not only help with the park’s operation but also have the resources needed to keep it going.
