Plans for the Douglas County Fairgrounds improvements

Imagine going to the Douglas County Fair and watching a musical performance in an outdoor amphitheater.

Or sitting in an enlarged outdoor arena to watch a tractor- or truck-pulling contest.

Those are just some of a number of potential improvements outlined for the 4-H Fairgrounds in a preliminary capital improvements plan prepared by a special committee made up of fairgrounds users and fair board members. Trudy Rice, director of the Douglas County Extension Service, is the committee’s chairwoman.

“It’s a long-range plan,” Rice said. “We looked at how we think things should happen and at what our urgent needs are.”

Cost estimates for the improvements have not yet been prepared.

Other highlights of the plan include a campground with shower facilities and electrical hookups at the northern end of the grounds. Those would be used primarily by people traveling in recreational vehicles and bringing their horses to shows in the community building, also known as the horse arena.

The northern grounds also would be the site of a convention center, or indoor events center. It might be used for boat, RV and home shows and not necessarily conventions, Rice said. It could also be used for antique shows and auctions as well as family reunions and weddings.

The committee looked at what already was available in Lawrence and Douglas County and what would complement them as well as what would draw people here from out of town, she said.

“We don’t want to compete with or duplicate the facilities that are already available,” Rice said.

Other suggested improvements are:

¢ An open wall pavilion with a metal roof and concrete floor just east of the horse arena, which could have horse stalls and be used for dog shows.

¢ A 5,000-square-foot meeting hall north of the extension service building.

¢ Create a central food service area in building 21 that could be used by 4-H and other groups using the fairgrounds.

Lighting and signage need to be improved at the fairgrounds, Rice said.

“The lighting is not good at all when people are out here at night,” she said. “And it would really be nice if we could have a sign that showed upcoming events.”

Buildings 1 and 2 are old and need considerable work, Rice said, adding that they might be replaced.

The fairgrounds was developed in 1951 and has served the county well, but improvements are needed to serve the public’s needs over the next 20 years, Rice said. During a 12-month period in parts of 2003-2004, 1,053 reservations were made for events at the fairgrounds and 80,000 users, records showed.

“There is a lot of demand out here, and we just want to make sure that we are meeting the needs,” Rice said.

In addition to preparing cost estimates, the county will have to figure out a way to pay for improvements if commissioners decide to do that.

“I think what the committee tried to do was be reasonable in terms of what would be practical for the entire county,” said assistant county administrator Pam Madl, a member of the committee.

Commissioner Jere McElhaney was impressed with the plans.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “They (the committee) have been very thoughtful. They’ve talked to a lot of users and groups. The county has a responsibility to its residents to have a good fairgrounds and a good area to be used by the public. It’s kind of like a glorified park.”

Tara Flory, Frank Male, George Hunsinger, Cedric Devin and Stan Ring are also on the committee.