Clark County is charting a future for the fairgrounds that includes extensive upgrades, but with limited funding, county leaders say only select projects will move forward in the near term.
At a Tuesday, July 8 work session, the County Council reviewed the latest master plan for the Clark County Fairgrounds, a long-range outline that identifies $170 million in potential improvements. However, with only $70 million in projected revenue through 2042, officials emphasized the need to prioritize projects.
“We will... evaluate everything that’s in this master plan and bring forth things that do make sense to do,” Director of Internal Services Michelle Schuster told the council. “We know we won’t be able to accomplish everything.”
The master plan replaces an outdated version that was more than twenty years old. Only two projects from that plan have been completed: the Exhibition Hall in 2004 and the lobby ticket booths in 2019. CEO and fair manager John Morrison explained that the additional projects outlined in the previous plan were too outdated, which created the need for the new master plan developed by Keffer/Overton Architects and presented to the council last week. For example, the previous plan included a 40,000-square-foot facility to house animals of all species at the fairgrounds, which has since become irrelevant due to regulations now requiring the separation of different species for health reasons.
“As we looked at it, we said it’s really not relevant to what’s happening... at the fair and in the community,” Morrison said.
What’s ahead in 2025 and 2026
For the current year, Clark County has budgeted $535,688 for new equipment and $660,000 for repairs.
Equipment purchases in 2025 include a water truck, a hook truck with five boxes, and a utility terrain vehicle.
Repair work includes a Bee Barn remodel, network switch upgrades, public address system improvements, asphalt repairs across the interior fairgrounds, and floor refinishing in the Exhibition Hall.
In 2026, the focus shifts to even larger investments as the county expects to spend $3.1 million on repairs and $460,000 on equipment. Repair items for 2026 include replacing livestock pens, repairing asphalt, upgrading lighting in the horse arena and stall barns, and $2.3 million worth of utility upgrades.
The big-ticket project for 2026 is the expansion of the administration office, estimated at $2.7 million. It is expected to begin construction next year, with architectural and engineering work already in progress.
Other future projects identified as priorities but not confirmed as scheduled for next year include a new maintenance shop ($2.1 million), demolition of the old admin/restroom buildings ($65,000), demolition of the existing maintenance shop ($25,000), construction of a new rental pavilion with restrooms to serve as a food court ($5.95 million), and demolition of the current food court ($92,000). County staff hope to start these projects next year.
Funding capacity is limited
Staff explained that while the master plan outlines up to $170 million in possible improvements and upgrades, Clark County will only have about $70 million in funding through 2042, primarily from Fund 1026, supported by hotel/motel tax revenue.
This fund currently holds just over $19 million and gains about $600,000 annually, which also supports operational costs at the fairgrounds. Councilor Matt Little asked staff if parts of the fairgrounds revenue, including trade shows and other events, could be brought into the master plan funding.
"So those just fund … the operational fund, the staffing out there, the ongoing daily costs,” Schuster explained. “So our rates don’t typically cover the construction cost.”
Councilors spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing traffic and infrastructure limitations around the site.
“Traffic is a major issue,” Councilor Glen Yung, said asking if there had been any exploration of state-level partnerships or grant opportunities to address congestion.
“We’re kind of a facility that has one way in, one way out,” Morrison responded. “It is something we really ought to look at.”
He noted that the future construction of roundabouts proposed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will help improve traffic flow during peak event hours.
A new approach to the food court
One of the most notable design shifts in the new master plan is how the food court will function. Rather than rebuild permanent food stalls used primarily during the 10-day fair, county staff said the future pavilion will take a more flexible approach, serving as a multi-use, year-round space.
“Right now... those areas are rented out, and the exhaust fans have to be kept up to standards,” Schuster explained. “The concept we’re looking at... will allow us to use that space not just for one vendor... It’d be more like a food truck concept.”
Vendors would bring their equipment in temporarily, connecting to existing hookups for power, gas, water, and sewer, and then leave once the events concluded. The structure itself would remain available for other types of programming throughout the year, such as festivals or community events.
“I don’t think the county can afford to spend money on a building that’s used 10 days out of the year,” Morrison said, explaining the need for multi-use facilities. “This plan... means let’s look at it and … make it something that’s not August 1 through 10 only.”
The future pavilion is currently part of the project list identified as a priority for eventual implementation, although it is not explicitly slated for construction next year. Its completion would require a sequence of projects, including the expansion of the administration office and the demolition of old buildings due to space and utility requirements.
