Hopefully, the seven members of the Gilroy City Council who will
decide whether the city of Gilroy will purchase the 536-acre
Bonfante/Gilroy Gardens Theme Park in west Gilroy for about $13
million have their eyes wide open.
Hopefully, the seven members of the Gilroy City Council who will decide whether the city of Gilroy will purchase the 536-acre Bonfante/Gilroy Gardens Theme Park in west Gilroy for about $13 million have their eyes wide open.
If the purchase doesn’t end up as a local ballot referendum issue – and it might given the volatility associated with the proposal – the Council had better consider all the consequences before inking a deal.
Initially, the Council has made the right decision: an in-depth inquiry is clearly in order. The per acre land price – a bargain of $23,130 – demands that. Compare that to the price, for example, the price the Gilroy Unified School District will pay for the Christopher High School land site – more than $470,000 an acre – and it’s obviously a proposition worth exploring.
Some have suggested that GUSD buy the site, build a high school and save millions. One thing’s certain, the Council will hear plenty of ideas while this process continues over the next few months.
Councilman Dion Bracco, who brought the deal to the forefront, has described the proposal as a “no-brainer.” Perhaps that will, in fact, be the case. But it would be more prudent to keep the adage “Be careful for what you wish” in mind during exploration.
There will be trade-offs if the city purchases the Gardens. Gilroy needs a new library, has planned an arts center to help revitalize downtown and wants to expand the sports park. Then, there are the crumbling sidewalks, laid waste by city-mandated tree roots and long, long neglected by city administration.
If the Council sets aside those projects to take advantage of this opportunity, the first question it should answer collectively is: Should the park be operated as a theme park and, if so, why?
Councilman Bracco compared this purchase to Central Park in New York City and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Both are free access parks, and though there are boat rides and various recreational opportunities for residents and visitors, neither is seen as a revenue-generator for the respective cities, and neither is operated as a theme park with amusement rides, etc.
The inherent danger in the purchase is this: If the city decides to operate it as a theme park, and thus views the Gardens as a profit center, the temptation to stray from the park’s serene, low-key mission becomes greater … “i.e., “If we put in a huge water slide and a roller coaster, we could fix the city sidewalks.”
Should the city propose a purchase, and couple it with a shuttering of the amusement park aspects and re-focusing on recreational activities open to all Gilroyans largely free of charge, that would clearly be in line with the city’s mission to provide open space and recreation for residents.
Beyond that are uncharted and potentially dangerous waters.
For the city to want back what it foolishly gave away – land-use control over the Gardens and the beautiful western gateway – is important. But the planning will be so important. There are opportunities, of course. Sunset Magazine not too long ago featured the Hecker Pass corridor. There are wineries, the Garlic Festival could re-locate there in a partnership deal or the arts center could move from downtown. Ideas abound.
Careful planning, focused on integrating the Gardens with the natural assets on Hecker Pass and enhancing opportunities for residents, will be crucial. You can, after all, go bankrupt pursuing a bargain. But it’s possible that this deal makes perfect sense. Asking tough, probing questions, demanding thorough, solid answers and doing it all transparently before the public for all to witness, are keys to a successful process.
The Council should approach this with hope and a healthy skepticism. It’s a big decision. Let’s make the right one for Gilroy’s future.
