In 2005, 142,986 visitors came to Emerson Park.

Led by Cayuga County Parks and Trails director Gary Duckett, employees Mike Dagnesi, Bill McLoud and Michele Lincoln, realize the public perception is that activities at the park “shut down” during the winter months; however, this belief is anything but true. In contrast to the summer months, and concealed from public view during the winter, the four Cayuga County Parks and Trails employees have been busy preparing for another event-filled spring and summer season.

Although the summer months are when most park revenue is derived, the winter months are when essential preparations are made as a basis to continue to attract the events and the people who attend them. The off-season is utilized to accomplish much-needed repairs and upgrades to park facilities and equipment as well as necessary planning, scheduling and preparation required to support ongoing spring and summer events. Without the employees dedication in the off season months, the resulting revenue derived from event and park attendance in the summer would be much lower.

The off-season unofficially begins in November when preparations begin for the Holiday Lights by the Lake and Santa's Breakfast (sponsored by Wegmans) held in December. As Gary Duckett states, “it would be very difficult if not impossible to perform some of the maintenance required if we did not have a period of shutdown. The park shutdown provides us time to plan and organize existing events and to consider and seek approval for new activities such as the disc golf course.”

Mike Dagnesi plans, oversees and performs maintenance, repairs and cleaning of park property, while Bill McLoud joins Mike in maintaining the grounds, winterizing the buildings, refurbishing equipment and upgrading the facilities. Since additional time is difficult to find during the active summer months, the off-season is the only time available to make necessary repairs and improvements which require more than two days. During this past off-season, electrical wiring in the Ward O'Hara Agriculture building has been completed as well as priming, painting and installing new doors at the Agricultural Museum. New doors will also be installed at the Merry-Go-Round Theater prior to the opening of the theater.

While Mike and Bill utilize the off-season to perform physical improvements to Emerson Park and the adjacent building and properties, Gary Duckett and assistant director, Michele Lincoln, are busy administering to upcoming park plans with county and state officials, interfacing with event organizers, receiving deposits for rental of park facilities such as the pavilion, shelters and boat slips, managing and monitoring monthly budgets and reporting and processing bills for payment.

This summer, events kick off with the annual Welcome in the Summer Dance on May 28 hosted by the Owasco Fire Department, and conclude with the last events of the year, the TomatoFest on Sept. 9 and 10 and the Float - Plane Fly In on Sept. 17. An exciting addition to the park this summer is the debut of Bernie Simmons (from Balloons restaurant) operating the Emerson Grill for the entire season.

The restaurant is open to the public, and patrons of the Merry-Go-Round theater are encouraged to enjoy dinner at the restaurant before attending a show.

With so much to look forward to at Emerson Park this season, one thing is certain, the Cayuga County Parks and Trails employees have not been hibernating the past six months.

The event schedule attests to their activities this “off-season” as another active summer at Emerson Park is about to begin.

Steve Dare lives and writes from the town of Owasco