Fair officials discuss site improvements

Long-term plans for updating and renovating the Flathead County Fairgrounds are beginning to take shape, Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell reported to county commissioners earlier this month.

Campbell and members of the fair board have been discussing ways to improve the site for several months. Part of their work included a two-day planning workshop related to design and interior grounds issues.

Charles Smith, an architect with Populous, met with fair officials for the initial discussion. Smith has also been involved with the reconstruction of the tornado-damaged MetraPark in Billings.

Campbell is building up the fairgrounds’ capital improvement fund to pay for grounds improvements. No work has been approved or scheduled.

Commissioners generally agreed with the initial concepts that Smith and the board have identified, although Commissioner Pam Holmquist disagreed with ideas that would result in the fairgrounds taking on more of a trade center atmosphere or alter the grandstands and arena.

“There’s been a lot of talk in this community about a bigger, better, different facility for all types of events,” Campbell said.

One way for the fairgrounds to offer some of those amenities is to improve the trade center, Smith’s report states.

With better acoustics, climate control and lighting, the addition of collapsible bleachers or seats and movable walls, installation of carpet, creation of locker and dressing rooms and improved parking, the trade center could host more events.

Those would include sports tournaments, graduations, trade shows, plays, performances, large banquets, community meetings, funerals, heavy equipment shows, senior and youth activities and gun shows.

The building also could house the fair office, 4-H offices and have break-out rooms for trade show meetings.

The amount of outdoor space at the fairgrounds is a good thing as far as setting the property apart from hotels which host various meetings or conventions, Campbell said. That space allows the fairgrounds to host events that otherwise might not come to Kalispell if they need a lot of outdoor space.

But, Holmquist said, “It’s important we remain a fair. We need to concentrate on that, not a trade center.”

Because the fairgrounds is landlocked, it’s important to evaluate how the property is utilized, Campbell said.

Smith suggested some changes be made to internal areas of the grounds because of space constraints. He mentioned alternate uses of the grandstands and arena, including the removal of the horse racing track and barns that he would replace with a parking area.

Other possibilities Smith mentioned included construction of a covered show arena, warm-up ring and horse barn.

He also suggested the grandstands be turned to create more of an amphitheater environment and to address the sun angle on bleachers that are adjacent to the grandstands.

“The arena we have is very, very big,” Campbell said.

Holmquist pointed out that horse races in Kalispell have proven popular and changes to the arena could affect races.

OTHER TALK at the workshop focused on the concession stands.

Smith suggested the row of small, individual concession stands be removed and a new food court built.

Commissioner Dale Lauman pointed out the concession buildings are really “just shacks, built to be used for seven days a year.” The buildings are relatively old and deteriorate fairly easily, he said.

One aspect of planning could include an evaluation of the pros and cons of getting rid of the concession booths and instead constructing one building with separate interior booths for concessions groups to operate out of during the fair, Lauman said.

Concessions buildings at the fairgrounds now have a singular purpose, Lauman said. “We need to decide if we want to stay with that or change,” he said.

“I think having the organizations there is a good part of the fair,” Campbell said. The concession stands are operated by various clubs, organizations and churches, most of which sell food and beverages to raise funds for their various projects.

Lauman agreed with keeping the volunteer groups involved. “We need to somehow keep that.”

IDEAS ABOUT reconfiguring the carnival area also were discussed.

Campbell liked Smith’s suggestion to create two carnival zones. One area would house rides for “little kids,” and the other for older children and adults.

The area designated for younger children could incorporate some park-like features, too, he said. Separating younger children in the carnival area is a good idea because some kids get frightened at the carnival, Campbell said. And the separate area results in a more relaxed, slower area for both the young children and their parents.

It also opens up space in the adult area of the carnival.

That configuration would have the carnival rides facing Meridian Road. People approaching the fairgrounds would see the rides, not the trucks that haul the rides to the fairgrounds, a more attractive feature.

Also in the carnival area, more pavement would be installed in a circular pattern with grass in the interior of the circle, Campbell said. Carnival rides would be parked on the pavement.

When the fair isn’t in session the grassy areas could be used for parking, he said.

FAIR OFFICIALS also intend to address topography and drainage as renovation planning continues, Campbell said.

“We’re pretty flat and that makes a difference in planning related to dust,” he said.

Fair board members already have endorsed a plan to make improvements to the entrances and exterior of the grounds, which includes more trees and shrubs and a walking path.

That concept would carry inside the grounds, too, Campbell said.

“We don’t have trees where our activities occur,” he said. “We need to bring landscaping inside in order to make it more appealing.”

Another issue to address at the fairgrounds is what drives people between areas of use, Campbell said.

Campbell reminded commissioners that the fairgrounds’ water and electric systems are antiquated and need to be replaced in a phased-in approach.

“The challenge is to keep a balance of celebrating the fair and yet become a facility that generates more money and hosts more events,” Campbell said.

Lauman was complimentary of the initial planning work.

“It’s setting a road map and a sense of direction and we’ve never really had that,” Lauman said. “We’re looking to the future to see what needs to happen. We can look at what the assets are. It’s a good first step in the right direction and then we can move forward.”

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.