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San Juan Cosalá Community Carousel and Pavilion Project 2025-2026
“El Carrusel de Cutzalan*”
“El Carrusel de Cutzalan*”
ABOVE PHOTOS ARE MARDI GRAS 2024, A SCHOOL PRESENTATION, THE MALACON PARK AND LAKESHORE
SJC is probably the oldest village located on the shores of Lake Chapal. Before the Spanish arrived it was named Cutzalan, the town between the forests.The Spanish congquerors established several other cties around the lake while leaving SJC on its own.The people there contiune to live with many of their pre-conquest lifestyle traditions. To this day you will notice a big difference between SJC and all of the nearby lake towns; SJC is concentrated and feels much more like an old village, cobblestone streets, families and children in pedestrian neighborhoods busy wit their lives. The population today is about 10,000 with many young families and children. It is a colorful town, lined with small stores and strong communitiy ties. The local natural hot springs are also a big part of the town's alure. And then there is the large lakeshore park on the south side of town, El Malecon, the waterfront. The picnic area and beginnings of the park are heavily used but much of this large park still needs more developemnt and trees. Our story begins here, changing an underused community space into a joyful community asset for children, families and visitors. Not by simply buying some ready-made equipment but making a very special traditional creative and educational project from the ground up, right here in SJC. Our lakeshore park will be stimulated with creative life and wildlife; wooden animals, trees and many birds.
“El Carrusel de Cutzalan":
This is the name for our community project to make a carousel and pavilion for our lakeshore city park. Carrusel Cutzalan is the name of our local non-profit project management group. We will pay for our project through fundraising events, sponsorship of distinctive components such as animals, mechanism parts or the pavilion. We will also benifit from monetary and in-kind donations as well as some educational and community development grants. The carousel will belong to the village and be open to all coming, locals and visitors. We will also install new benches, tables and trees in the area. The whole project will be done in SJC by local professionals, our students, local artists and other volunteers. Using local and regional materials is an important goal for our work. Education and community are at the core of our mission. We will share school carousel art, design and history programs with all grade levels, from the fancifull elementary students to the vocational training of high school students. Many different skills are required to design and build a carousel and pavilion. For those who like drawing and geometry, the design process for such a caarousel if full of opportunity too. The drawings can also become the basis for artworks.
Guidance and assistance with Carousel-builder William H Dentzel:
Bill (Guillermo) is a fifth generation carousel maker, his great-great-grandfather Michael made carousels in southern Germany and sent his sons, one of them named Gustav, to America where they continued the craft. Bill has made 10 community carousels, the first one in Chiapas, Mexico in 1981, and other rides over the past 44 years and is now semi-retired. He wants to teach this craft and help it to live on where it can be enjoyed. The SJC malecon park is big and beautiful with many birds. Our carousel will also have birds, and many other ancient animals. The pavilion will house the ride and protect it from the sun and rain for many years. We will make this underdeveloped park area fun for the whole family and visitors. This will be a traditional, modern style, small hybrid hand-crank carousel that even a 9 or 10 year old child, under the supervision of an adult operator, can rotate.
The Carousel:
- Carries 15 riders total; 8 on animals, 2 in a chariot and 5 on swing seats.
- 6 meters in diameter.
- Center pole is steel with a bamboo tower decoration.
- The Rotating Frame is wooden beams with steel fasteners.
- Animals and chariot are wood, hand carved and painted locally.
- A full menagerie of animals is the best combination,
such as: a horse, a pelican chariot, a turtle, a tiger, a whale, a
buffalo, a small airplane, a rabbit, a giraffe, an elephant, a bear, a
hippocampus, a frog, etc. in unique local style.
- Rounding boards (tablas) and shields (escudos) are wooden and painted.
- Bell ringing game is for the riders as they ride on the
carousel. Instead of brass ring catching, ringing a bell by reaching
out with your arm to pull the clapper line will be the challenge. Young
riders always love this.
- 10 meters in diameter.
- Concrete and steel posts.
- Steel rafters with colorful roof tiles (tejas) on a vented roof.
- A low fence around it with only one gate for entry and exit or riders.
Community Use:
The carousel will belong to the community and be managed by the non-profit group Carrusel Cutzalan, that over sees the use and maintenance of the ride and pavilion. It will be open for operation at specific hours and special rental events. It can only be opened and operated by a trained operator. Everyone, locals and visitors, will be able to ride it. They must have a ride ticket, the operator does not handle money. Ride tickets, provided through the Carrusel Cutzalan group, will be available in many locations even those who cannot afford to buy one.
These Parts We Will Make Locally to Build Our Carousel:
There are two items sharing the top of the components-to-do list. First is the steel center pole mechanism, this supports the rotating frame and carries all of the animals and riders. The second big component is the pavilion. It will become the staging area and painting studio for the carousel as it is assembeled. When finished the carousel remains in the pavilion where it operates. The carousel will always be protected from the sun, wind and rain. Also, fencing with a gate will keep it closed when no operator is present. Without the protection of the pavilion the carousel would only last a few years, with the pavilion it will last for generations. Other parts we will need include hardware for hanging the animals and the wood to build them also wood for the rotating frame and a variety of scenic panels. Instead of a ring catching game for the riders, it takes too much management, there will be a bell ringing game which is just as fun and challenging. Fortunately with a professional carousel maker on the project advisory team all of these pieces can be made and assembled into a carousel right here in San Juan Cosala.
Project Costs:
The total amount we are aiming to raise to build and establish this carousel and pavilion is US$TBD, To-Be-Determined, (MX$TBD). This will be used for materials and supplies, also some local professional fabrication and construction services which will be needed for such things as the center pole and the pavilion. Also wood sculpture artists and other wood workers will be paid for their contributions. There are also some presentation and management costs. The bulk of our funds will be used directly to create the carousel and park infrastructure including the pavilion.
Funding the Project:
There will be several methods used to pay to build the carousel and pavilion. The Carrusel Cutzalan group will create local fundraisers, donors will sponsor different parts of the carousel, and grant money for educational and community projects will also be used. Eventually artistic items such as decorations and furniture can be made locally in the carousel style and sold in galleries. We have a well located, safe and family friendly site. William Dentzel will come to stay long term in SJC to guide and teach professionals and students the art of making the carousel when the building time arrives.
Procedure:
We will start with the steel center pole and the pavilion. The pavilion will become the assembly and staging area for putting the whole carousel together. Hanging hardware, the animals and decorative panels will be up next. The painting will happen there too. The pavilion will essentially become a community assembly and art studio. When all the work is completed, and the benches and trees have been put into the park, the carousel will open and begin operating.
Timing:
This first carousel project will take one year from the starting time to complete. If a second project happens, for a nearby town for example, it will go faster because everyone will be ready and experienced.
Use:
This type of carousel is easy to crank, the operator can do it or he/she can show a young person the basic rules and how to do it (a 9 or 10 year old is able to do this). There are riding rules that will be clearly posted and enforced by the operator at the carousel. When the carousel is closed it is not for riding. The hours and days of operation will be posted.
Items Looking for Sponsors:
- 8 Menagerie Animals (US$ TBD, each)
- 1 Double Chariot (US$ TBD)
- 10 Rounding Boards (US$ TBD, each)
- 10 Shields (US$ TBD, each)
- 1 Steel center pole with rotating wood frame and bamboo decoration (US$ TBD) (this can be shared)
- Drivetrain parts and mechanism (US$ TBD)
- 1 Bell ringing game (US$ TBD)
- 1 Pavilion (US$ TBD) (this could be broken down into smaller portions such as the foundation, structure, and roof and can be shared)
- 8 Observation benches (US$ TBD, each)
- 8 Trees planted in new holes with good topsoil (US$ TBD, each)
How Can You Help Now?
We need raise funds for project outreach, the center pole and the pavilion. Those are the first big steps to take. Then there are all sorts of smaller but essential and exciting projects we will be doing to outfit it and establish the operation of the carousel in the park. Donate directly to the group Carrusel Cutzalan or sponsor a major part of the carousel such as an animal, pavilion structure or scenic panel. The pavilion is a big item which will benefit greatly from a generous sponsorship, from a single source or divided into sections such as; roof, foundation, framing, etc. Right now, to sponsor a part of the carousel or just make a donation please contact William Dentzel, bilito@gmail.com.
Current Carrusel Cutzalan board members:
- Augustin Vasquez, president of Carrusel Cutzalan
- Isidro Chivo, vice president of Carrusel Cutzalan
- Kany Garcia Villalobos, treasurer of Carrusel Cutzalan
- William Dentzel, advisor to Carrusel Cutzalan, bilito@gmail.com
If you would like to contribute to the launching of this project please contact William Dentzel for more information. Right now we are raising money to establish our local non-profit corporation Carrusel Cutzalan to manage this community park and educational program.