WHEATFIELD: Oz theme park still in the works

By Dave Hill/hilld@gnnewspaper.com
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

February 26, 2008 02:31 am

— WHEATFIELD — The folks at Oz Central have kept a pretty low profile since announcing plans several years ago to develop an 800-acre theme park in Wheatfield. It appears it’ll remain that way until there’s a major announcement.
Town officials say things are progressing while Oz Central, the group that owns the rights to the estate of the L. Frank Baum Family Trust, continues with the environmental impact statement, a massive document that will detail any potentially adverse effects the park will have on the surrounding neighborhood.
“We’re certainly not talking a year or two down the road, but I don’t think we’re talking tomorrow or the next day, either,” Town Attorney Bob O’Toole said when asked about a time frame for some big news.
He said the town meets regularly with Oz representatives and that large portions of the environmental impact statement are complete. Oz developers also recently submitted a drainage report to the town, a further sign of progress, O’Toole said.
However, Oz officials still need to hammer out several details, such as how much and what type of assistance the project might receive.
“To date, they have not asked for or received anything from the state, town or county,” O’Toole said, adding, “the town will help in any way that we can to move it along.”
An Oz Central spokesman commented only briefly on the situation Monday. John Simon said they are still in the process of completing the environmental review.
“We’re totally at the mercy of the various state and federal regulations,” he said. He said the organization does not have any additional comment.
O’Toole said Oz developers have chosen to work on the project quietly and behind the scenes, rather than doing their development in the media and making public statements every step of the way.
That has left many people in Niagara County wondering what’s going on with the project, based on the series of “Wizard of Oz” books authored by Baum.
Town Supervisor Tim Demler said he understand the cynicism some may have, because there hasn’t been much said publicly about the project in a while. However, he said he would reassure people that things are proceeding. In fact, he said, Oz representatives met with Wheatfield officials in Town Hall twice in the past two weeks.
“People have every reason to be cynical, but in the near future, they’re going to be pleasantly surprised,” Demler said, without specifying a how soon that might be.
Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.