Economic woes hit historic association

Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Thursday, March 04, 2010, 12:00 AM)

The Sierra Historic Sites Association held its monthly board meeting last Thursday under a cloud of concern by board members regarding the future of the Fresno Flats Historic Park.

"There is a real sense of concern that we will not have the funds available to remain open," said SHSA treasurer Barbara Skowronski. "Like everything else nowadays, economic troubles are affecting the park."

The list of items requiring board attention continues to grow. Three weeks ago, the park's storage shed was broken into and an air compressor was taken. There has been minor water damage to two of the historic buildings' roofs and another has a hole in the floor because of a leaking air conditioner. The list goes on.

The withdrawal of Madera County financial support this past year has also hurt the balance sheet.

"Madera County has always paid the utilities for the park," Skowronski said. "That is close to $1,500 a month that we now need to come up with."

"It's like everything else -- we've cut all extra funding for everything that's not essential services to Madera County departments," said Madera County Supervisor Tom Wheeler. "The library, two fire stations and animal services and we are going to cut more. We can't even keep our own employees and are offering early retirements, laying employees off...the money's just not there."

Another concern of the association is a shortage of docents.

Docents are the trained tour volunteers whose major responsibility is to help visitors understand and appreciate the Fresno Flats Historic Park.

"When Oakhurst Intermediate School discontinued its GATE program, we lost many of our student docents," Skowronski said. "Those gifted children could relate to the many school children who visit the park with school groups and did a great job for us."

All of that put great pressure on the association's limited resources.

But giving up is not part of the language at the park. The school tour season will begin soon and three tours have already been scheduled for May.

There are several fundraisers planned, starting with the 10th annual Ragtime Festival and Vintage Music Festival March 12 to 14 at Fresno Flats. The association is working on a fundraiser dinner at Sky Ranch this summer and will also host Christmas at Fresno Flats in December.

Different sites at Fresno Flats can be rented for special occasions such as weddings, reunions and barbecues, and the board hopes that the community will hold more events at the location.

"We have a barbecue pit and picnic area," Skowronski said. "We also have a kitchen in the Cunningham School where groups hold meetings."

The SHSA board is also seeking additional funds from other sources.

"We need an infusion of new members," Skowronski said. "Our members pay dues and can bring in fresh ideas to the association."

Members pay annual dues from $25 for a general membership, $50 for a bronze membership, $300 for a silver membership, $500 for the gold membership and $1,000 for a platinum membership.

The association plans on writing a grant proposal to Chukchansi this year.

"I hope they put in for the Chukchansi grant again and go out and try to get volunteers," Wheeler said. "They need to hold fundraisers, go out for other types of grants that the whole world is going for. It's just a bad situation right now."

The park is currently open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Use of the library is by appointment.

Details: (559) 683-6570.