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They plan to do it one more year, for the 20th anniversary in 2010. After that, they're hoping the town and community take over the annual Christmas Festival of Lights and create a park on nearby town-owned land to hold the display.
The neighborhood light show has grown so large it is no longer manageable, say co-founders Paul Beckler and Rob Lolik. It takes around 60,000 lights and about two weeks to prepare, organizers have said, and more than doubles residents' usual monthly electric bill. About six people do most of the work, they say.
The event began in 1990 when the Loliks decided to decorate a 40-foot-tall magnolia tree in their yard in honor of their newly adopted daughter. It has grown to include more than 30 houses on Dove Street and neighboring roads. A shuttle runs from Coligny Plaza to transport visitors through the display, while long lines of cars and walkers slowly snake past illuminated Christmas scenes and underneath canopies of lights. It even has its own FM radio station and bubble machine.
The lights stay up for a month, and the display costs several thousand dollars a year, Beckler said.
"We can't continue to do this for the next 50 years," Beckler told the town's Public Facilities Committee last week.
Town residents and visitors have come to depend on the event each year, not only as a source of Christmas cheer but as a charity fundraiser, Beckler said. Beckler wants to ensure the tradition continues. So he and Lolik proposed moving the lights to town-owned land bordered by Park Drive and North Forest Beach Drive. The 4.5-acre parcel stretches between Eagle and Heron streets and could become Dove Street Park, they propose.
They envision the town carving out a one-way dirt road to allow buses and other vehicles to pass through. A separate path would allow people to walk through the display. Both passages would lead people beneath lighted tree canopies. No parking would be provided.
They also envision an area that could provide entertainment by school and church choirs and other performers. People could drop off donations of presents, canned goods and toys for charity there.
"We would like to emphasize that we wish that the Dove Street Park and gateway to the park be consistent with the vision we have created over the last 20 years in order that we may give it our whole-hearted support," Beckler said. "We are hoping it will continue to warm the hearts and brighten spirits of those who choose to walk or drive by for many, many years to come."
The park, which would not have any permanent displays or structures, would be maintained by a nonprofit organization, which would be responsible for staffing volunteers during the festival and for setting up and maintaining the light displays.
Beckler and Lolik asked the town to set up a committee to study the issue.
Facilities committee members said they were eager to help, and town staff would investigate traffic issues and costs associated with moving the event in 2011.
"As long as I'm around, I'll do everything that I can to do this, in keeping with your vision," said Town Councilman John Safay, also a facilities committee member. "Seriously, we're pumped."
Committee member and Town Councilman Drew Laughlin was concerned about what would happen if the town didn't help with the lights festival -- and joked about what his home life would be like.
"It's the highlight of my wife's winter Christmas season every year. If I don't try to do whatever I can to help you, I'd probably have to move."
Beckler said he and the other Dove Street organizers are still considering ideas and have posted their proposal at www.DoveStreetLights.com for people to see and comment on. The goal, he said, is to maintain the spirit of the Dove Street tradition.
"We're trying to replicate the experience," he said.
