GILROY
– A vacant Bonfante Gardens board of directors seat has been
filled by a well-known veterinarian, a former Chamber of Commerce
Man of the Year and a self-described “tree-hugger with business
sense.”
GILROY – A vacant Bonfante Gardens board of directors seat has been filled by a well-known veterinarian, a former Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and a self-described “tree-hugger with business sense.”
Longtime Gilroyan Greg Martinez is the newest member of the horticultural theme park’s seven-member governing body. Given the many issues facing Bonfante Gardens – such as a mountainous debt and less-than-stellar attendance figures – Martinez will be expected immediately to bring to the board a blend of business savvy and educational advocacy, qualities board directors say landed him the volunteer job.
“Greg challenged us to take the vision of Michael Bonfante (the park’s founder)and raise it to another plateau,” said Bob Kraemer, current board president. “We’ve been so locked up in survival mode, and he said, frankly, ‘There’s more to the park than what you folks are doing.’ ”
Martinez, who co-owns Gilroy Veterinary Hospital, says the park’s mission of being a horticultural and educational theme park is only half met right now.
“What I’d like to see at the park is what you see now at Monterey Bay Aquarium,” Martinez said. “That is an educational place, and this park should mirror that a little bit more. We can put in more (informational) signage, we can explain the ecosystems in the large greenhouse and I think local colleges can be helpful in doing those projects with us.”
The horticultural amusement park on Hecker Pass Highway west of Gilroy is facing a nearly $1 million annual property tax bill for 2003-04, plus a nearly $50,000 late fee. The park owes at least another $1 million in property taxes for the previous year.
Although the park turned a slight profit – its first – in the 2003 season, Bonfante Gardens still faces a multimillion debt that cannot be wiped out with one season of operating in the black. Also, differing interpretations over the property tax issues could lead to a potential legal fray with the county.
