Clark County considers future of the county fairgrounds

Morrison said only two projects were completed under the existing plan: construction of the exhibit hall and the addition of ticket booths at the exhibit hall. He also said some of the more than $39 million in remaining projects are no longer relevant to the current needs.

“A good example was that plan initially had a 40,000-square-foot animal facility in it that would have combined all the species in one area. Over the years, the increase in animal health concerns and requirements to separate species meant that we had to modify that and get different buildings. That made a considerable change in the amount of space that’s required to do that,” Morrison said.

The county hired Keffer/Overton Architects from Des Moines, Iowa, to create a new plan for the grounds. That required taking a walking tour of the property, looking at every building, reviewing market conditions and talking with stakeholders, said Chip Overton, the firm’s president.

“We really wanted to have a plan that was achievable, something that could be developed over the next 10-plus years, not something that necessarily we were going to try to develop on Day 1,” Overton told the council.

Among the key areas identified in the new master plan are addressing deferred maintenance, expanding the infrastructure and “back of house” or non-public areas needed to support events, and developing multiuse facilities, Overton said.

“Any building we put into place, we want to make sure it’s something that is not only long-term viable, usable, but also something that can be used for any number of events, whether it’s a sporting event for a local high school, whether it’s a trade show or possibly even an event like a fair or a farmers market or something similar,” he said.

The proposed plan identifies about $20 million in potential renovations, including the grandstand, exhibit halls, livestock barns, riding arena, horse barn and others. The plan also includes $43 million for a new management office, food court, covered pavilion, covered entry gate, restrooms, animal barns and covered arena, as well as about $12 million for recreational vehicle parking, stormwater and wastewater facilities, technology updates, signage and more.

The most expensive upgrades, additions and repairs at the site will come from parking.

“For the parking, there’s about $87 million in total projects. And for roadway improvements, about $2.4 million of projects,” Michelle Schuster from the county’s internal services office said during the work session.

With existing fund balances at about $21 million, Schuster said it won’t be feasible to complete all $170 million in potential projects, but they were included in the plan so the county could decide where to start.

In an interview Monday, Morrison said any work identified in the new master plan and approved by the county council would have to be carried out in phases. One of the immediate priorities already in process is addressing parking, he said.

“We’re actually down the road pretty well on identifying the need for parking lot A, which is the big lot right near where the C-Tran buses pull in. Getting that reworked and redone, that is going to be the first thing that happens,” he said.

Morrison said the new master plan will also benefit the annual Clark County Fair, which runs this year from Aug. 1-10. The new multiuse building, animal barns, food court and covered pavilion will make for a better experience for fairgoers, he said.

“The master plan is going to do more for the year-round capability of the fairgrounds itself by the addition of facilities that have a multiuse and can be used for more than just the 10 days of the fair,” Morrison said. “It’s not going to grow the fair in terms of numbers because we are pretty constrained by the amount of parking we’ve got out here and the ability for people to be on the grounds. It’s going to make it better but not necessarily bigger.”

Shari Phiel: [email protected]; 360-562-6317; @Shari_Phiel

IF YOU GO

What: Clark County Fair

When: Friday through Aug. 10

Where: 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield

Admission: $13 for adults; $11 for seniors 62 and older; $10 for children ages 7-12; free for children 6 and younger. (Tickets purchased online in advance are discounted by $3 through Thursday on the fair’s website, www.clarkcofair.com. A $1.50-per-ticket service charge applies.)

Discount days

• Opening day: Free admission 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Valid only with coupon from participating Fred Meyer locations.)
• Aug. 4: Family day. Admission is $7 for kids ages 7-12; kids 6 and younger are free.
• Aug. 5: Military Appreciation Day. Admission is $8 per person for current military members and veterans, with military ID.
• Aug. 6: Prime of Your Life Day. Admission is $8 for those 62 and older.
• Aug. 7: Kids’ Day. Admission is $7 for ages 7-12; 6 and younger free.

Hours

• Aug. 1-2 and 8-9: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Aug. 3-7 and 10: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Rides open at noon daily.

Getting there

Parking is $8 per vehicle. C-Tran runs free shuttle service to the fair from Vancouver Mall, 99th Street, Mill Plain, Fisher’s Landing, Yacolt, Battle Ground, La Center High School and Ridgefield Junction Park & Rides.

For details, visit www.c-tran.com/fair.

Rides

Credits are $1. Rides require three to five credits per person. Unlimited ride wristbands are available Mondays through Thursdays for $37 and Fridays through Sundays for $40.

Grandstand event schedule

• Aug. 1: Brothers Osborne at 7 p.m.
• Aug. 2: George Thorogood and the Destroyers at 7 p.m.
• Aug. 3: Kansas at 7 p.m.
• Aug. 4: Mutton Bustin’ at 2 p.m.; bull riding at 7 p.m.
• Aug. 5: Mutton Bustin’ at 2 p.m.; Hell on Hooves at 7 p.m.
• Aug. 6: Demolition Derby at 2 and 7 p.m.
• Aug. 7: Side by Side Racing at 2 and 7 p.m.
• Aug. 8-9: Tuff Trucks at 2 and 7 p.m.
• Aug. 10: Monster Trucks at 2 and 7 p.m.