Floating Stage Proves Worth as Community Development Tool: Innovation Garners Economic Development Award; Now Being Offered in Other States.

BEMUS BAY, N.Y. -- To paraphrase Shakespeare, all the lake's a stage, and the people on it, community builders.

What began for restauranteur Dan Dalpra a quarter-century ago as a modest exercise in restoring a run-down diner has mushroomed into a passion for economic revival in a once-sleepy area of western New York. For decades, Chautauqua Lake had remained a cozy gathering spot for locals and tourists but had never managed to establish itself as the kind of large-scale destination needed to sustain the area's economy year-round. Enter Dalpra - a jovial man with a mission from Canton, Ohio - and everything changed.

In 1982, Dalpra purchased a 45-seat diner on the lake, slowly transforming it into The Italian Fisherman, a more than 500-seat restaurant. In 1998, he took one final step that would transform the entire region.

Dalpra created a local 36-piece orchestra, the Bemus Bay Pops, to engage in a series of free concerts on his restaurant's rooftop. Soon the rooftop was no longer adequate. Over the next five years, turnout grew steadily, culminating in a seasonal crowd of more than 15,000 as patrons flocked to the waterfront to enjoy a unique combination of food and entertainment.

A page from Sydney Harbor

Intrigued by the design of the opera house that crowns Sydney, Australia's harbor, Dalpra set about building a new performance venue for Chautauqua Lake - not an opera house, but a floating stage patterned after the architectural icon. Today Dalpra presents more than 50 programs each season on his floating stage including the Pops series, Motown, jazz, regional theater, a local Idol contest, Praise on the Lake worship services and more. The stage, which can hold more than 200 performers, also doubles as a movie theater, with large screens viewable from lake and shore and soundtracks transmitted to landlubbers and boaters by a radio station. A Labor Day finale with fireworks caps each season.

Substantial economic benefit

In the towns that dot Chautauqua Lake, residents have taken notice of the impact the floating stage has had on the economy. This fall, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is presenting Dalpra with its Economic Development Award, reflecting that impact.

Says Pam Lydic, Chamber president: "Dan was one of the first people to focus on tourism. He gets visitors here, attends to them and shares them with others, believing that what is good for one is good for all. His efforts have produced jobs and economic development and have helped make this region a true destination."

Lydic's enthusiasm is borne out by Americans For The Arts, which provides communities with calculation tools to help determine the economic benefits of arts and cultural activities. The combined $200,000 investment for event programming that Dalpra, for-profit and nonprofit sponsors make each season generates $6.3 million in event-related audience spending that supports 166 jobs and $565,000 in local and state tax revenues, according to the national organization's calculations.

Lydic notes that as a result of the boom in tourism, an increasing number of visitors are hopping on one of the oldest car ferries in the United States to travel to and from Chautauqua Institute, the grand dame of arts and culture across the lake. Along with wineries, shops and farms in the region, Lydic says, "you put that together and you have a real destination. Now there's something to do every day of the week."

Mike Quimby, worship director at Bemus Point United Methodist Church, which conducts Sunday services on the floating stage each summer, echoes Lydic's sentiment.

"We're committed to being a church without walls. We began with 500 people and now see 1,000 each week that we hold Praise on the Lake," Quimby relates. "They're coming by boat and by land. It's not every day that you see members of the congregation handing out church bulletins in kayaks, but it works," he says, adding that a performance by Christian musician Mark Schultz on the floating stage drew 6,000 people.

"Quality of life, recreation opportunities and the local economy have all been boosted by the floating stage," said State Senator Cathy Young (NY-57, R, I, C). "Its uniqueness and entertainment value have drawn thousands to Chautauqua Lake and its success will continue to grow."

Where to next?

Dalpra, whose floating stage is built to hold more than 65,000 pounds, last 20 years and features a canopy frame engineered to withstand winds exceeding 80 miles per hour, sees other communities across the country benefiting from his concept, and through his new company, Floating Stage Productions, Inc. (www.floatingstage.com) he is starting to talk with some of them.

"The stage creates a gathering spot for family-oriented programming that stimulates residents, businesses and government to work together to help make their area more of a genuine destination," Dalpra observes, citing existing property upgrades, new business development and real estate sales as just three of the stage's results.

Dalpra says grants, loans, municipal funding, gifting and private and corporate sponsorships all play a role in replicating the success experienced in Chautauqua County, and he believes other waterfront communities will benefit.

KeyBank, one of two financial institutions that sponsor programs on the floating stage, agrees.

"KeyBank has had the good fortune of working with Dan as a sponsor of the Bemus Bay Pops since 1998," offered Marie Hare, vice president of community affairs for Key. "Our experience has been simply wonderful. Dan's enthusiasm is infectious and our sponsorship has proved extremely worthwhile for all involved, particularly Chautauqua Lake and western New York."

"We live in difficult times and it gives me great pleasure to be involved in such a wonderful program that puts things back into our community," reflects Dalpra. "The gathering of families and friends and the ability to have a sense of community is priceless."