But the project is unlikely to be complete in time to allow Warren County Winterfest to proceed in full in January 2019.

Park Manager Tyson Martin said that a bi-weekly job conference held on Wednesday resulted in a “revised contract end date” of Feb. 17, 2019 “barring weather delays and shut-downs for sub-freezing temperatures.”

He explained that “if the temperatures and weather are favorable” construction will continue during the winter “potentially including before, during and after Winterfest weekend.

“Also, as the dam is still under construction and the lake level fluctuates as the contractor requires and is able to control; they keep the lake as low as possible whenever they… can in order to continue performing work that can otherwise not be performed when the lake is at normal pool.”

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Crews work on the side of the spillway at Chapman State Park on Thursday morning.

Martin noted that poses a logistical challenge to scheduling the polar plunge “as there may be no water to plunge into.”

“The last I heard from the Winterfest Committee was that they plan to hold the Jim Lobdell Memorial Sled Dog races and canine weight-pull,” Martin said. “They tentatively hope to also hold the Polar Bear Plunge, benefiting the Salvation Army.

“They have chosen to not hold other events due to the ongoing construction and dynamic status of available areas and amenities.”

Martin said Winterfest as planned is set for January 18-20, 2019.

He explained that “operationally, there just isn’t the space yet to accommodate the number of visitors a ‘full’ Winterfest can attract. The more abstract reasoning is that the parts of the park under construction are in disarray. The park has not been returned to the beautiful and pristine condition visitors expect and deserve while enjoying Winterfest.”

Wes Ramsey with Penn Soil RC&D confirmed that the sled dog races and canine weight pull “is moving ahead” and that the Salvation Army would like to pull off the polar plunge.

“The status of other events has been and continues to be up in the air pending the status of renovations at the Park and condition of the facilities, as well as the need for volunteers to step up and help organize Winterfest activities,” Ramsey said.

Penn Soil RC&D is the fiscal agent for Winterfest, Ramsey explained, and said that liability insurance has been secured for the sled dog events “and we are currently assisting the Winterfest Committee to raise funds to support the event.

“At present, we have received roughly $2,000 in new donations toward the typical $12,000 budget of a normal Winterfest Event,” he said. “In addition to the need for suitable winter weather conditions, more financial and volunteer support from the community will be necessary to bring Winterfest back to what it has been in the past.

“Within conditions and the status of the renovations at the park, we will do the best we can for this year and hope to get the event back to what it has been in the past, hopefully, by next year. Individuals or other organizations that would like to help with reorganizing Winterfest are more than welcome and they can contact me if they would like to get involved with supporting the event.”

Martin also noted that food and craft vendors as well as exhibitors and volunteers “need and want numerous visitors throughout the weekend.

“When attendance is expected to be low, many of these entities choose not to come to Winterfest. Of course, the subsequent lack of vendors then causes even lower attendance; compounding the issue for these folks. Offering just a handful of what visitors have come to expect would be disappointing to both the visitor and the vendor.

“The park staff along with all our visitors eagerly await the return of our beautiful park and a robust venue for fantastic events, like Winterfest.”