Bonfante Gardens sheds financial burdens; will add ice rink to
its second year of Holiday Lights
Gilroy – Bonfante Gardens has shed its financial burdens and is wrapping up a successful summer season, according to representatives of the city’s horticulturally themed park.
In June, the park off Hecker Pass Highway completed a debt restructuring plan that reduced its financial obligations from $70 million to $13 million. At the same time, it opened a new water attraction intended to lure parents and children looking to escape the summer heat.
“We had a very successful summer with the addition of the Splash Garden tree,” said park spokeswoman Holly Perez.
Exact attendance figures and revenue for the summer season were not immediately available. In 2004, the park netted more than $100,000 in profit, and officials expected to meet or surpass that amount this year.
The park also has made good on its plans to bolster revenues by holding more special events. In addition to a number of weddings held throughout the summer, the park hosted events for local Hispanic groups and, most recently, a car show and concert that raised $6,500 for a music program at Mt. Madonna Continuation High School.
“The whole event area is one that we see this facility ideally suited for and we’re going to grow it as much as we can,” said Bob Kraemer, president of the nonprofit park’s board of directors.
As its summer season draws to a close, the park will hold one last week of daily operations before switching to a weekend schedule following Labor Day. The season officially ends Oct. 30, but Perez said the park’s activities are far from over.
“We’ve got a full slate of events – camp nights, a home and garden culinary show, trick or treating,” she said. “Even though summer is winding down, there are still plenty of events at Bonfante.”
Officials also plan to include an ice rink in the expanded second year of Holiday Lights, a weekend event that transforms the park into a winter wonderland of ornaments and lights. They hope to continue the success of last year, when the event drew thousands during a time that is generally considered a dead season.
No official schedule has been set for the winter event, but Perez said it will begin Nov. 25 and run for more days than in 2004.
“Folks can expect a bigger and better second year,” she said.
Kraemer added that the completion of the park’s debt restructuring has placed the nonprofit group in a position to meet its twice-a-year payments to remaining bondholders.
He also predicted the resolution of the parks financial troubles would help it secure future sources of financing.
“Now that we are past the survival mode and in the normal business-competitive mode, people are willing to step up and are saying ‘I want to be part of this,'” Kraemer said. “Now we’re talking about applying for grants and other support.”
Visit Bonfante Gardens online at www.bonfantegardens.com.
