Four years ago, when John Marello bought the vacant lot in the center of the village of Spencerport, he had no idea exactly what he would do with it. Then a year-and-a-half ago, he and his wife, Mary, bought the adjacent building and opened Canalside Abbott's. Recently he has found the perfect thing to put on the lot - a carousel. Marello has found that his idea has generated a lot of support and enthusiasm. Just the concept of a carousel in the center of the village brings smiles to the faces of people who hear about it.

"I hope to have a good, clean gathering place for families and to bring in opportunities for other businesses," Marello said. "Spencerport is the closest village on the canal to downtown Rochester and the airport. Small business owners here are dying. I hope this will be a draw for the village. I hope every merchant in the village will draw from it."

"My motivations are simple," he said. "There once was a movie called "Field of Dreams." There was a quote, 'build it and they will come.' I feel the same way."

Marello said he already has a lot of support for the idea. He will bring the idea before the village architectural review board on July 23. His plans include a platform for the carousel with white lattice, park benches and streetlights - in a town square concept. "I would like to get the village to turn it into a park ... and maybe have a big Christmas tree there in December."

Fred Stoffel, CPA said, "I think it would be great for the community. We need some interest in downtown Spencerport - for kids after a ball game or for people who travel the canal. We need something positive. It's a start! Make it 'someplace special.' "

The carousel Marello has in mind is 22 feet in diameter and was manufactured by Fabricon Carousel Company. The present owners are Tropic Capital, and it is currently in storage in Tampa, Florida. It is fashioned after an original carousel made in 1903. There will be two rows of horses, five jumpers, one giraffe, one tiger and a chariot. The animals were designed by D.C. Muller. Marello hopes to have a continuous-play CD of traditional band and organ music.

Marello is the assistant to the pastor and the youth minister at the Spencerport Bible Church. He also heads outreach programs, such as Upward Basketball. "If God gives me an opportunity," he says, "to minister to people or to see one life changed or one family come together by (my) owning a carousel or Abbott's, then it's worth the effort to see this through."

Marello met his wife, Mary (Panaggio) in Daytona, Florida. She is from Brockport. They have six children -- Nicholas (19), Christopher (16), Danielle, Johnny (10), Benjamin (7) and MaryKate (3).

"Mary has been my inspiration. She is a fantastic mom and a great support for me and all my crazy ideas. Mary and I hope to one day be involved with an orphanage and to minister to kids that are less fortunate than ours. I am a blessed man to be living in the town I grew up in and to be able to minister here also."

Marello said his target date for the carousel is the end of the summer. Canalside Abbott's features a picture of the carousel and a place people can sign their names showing their support for it.