TRI-LAKES AREA — When Arkansas State Fair officials called for bids statewide for a new site for the annual autumn event, the city of Benton and Saline County were able to submit a detailed proposal almost immediately, because they already had a plan under way.

“We had been working with architects and planners for 18 months before we heard anythingabout moving the State Fair,” said Jill Jones, executive director of the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission. “It was a new design of the facilities at the Saline County Fairgrounds as part of the master plan for city and county economic development.

With few changes, the proposed new Saline County Fair became what the city hopes will be a strong bid to become the Central Arkansas Fairplex, a possible home for the Arkansas State Fair.

Jones said the plan would certainly grow and undergo some alternations if the site was selected for the State Fair, but that flexibility is possible because of the scope of the existing designs.

“There would be some changes that could be made, but I think some 85 percent of the current plan would probably stay,” Jones said. “Our fair plan is already adequate for the State Fair, and the 77-acre space is already owned by the local governments. Other adjacent landis owned by the city or the county. We have been told the State Fair would need a total of 350 acres to include space enough for parking. We have already talked with land owners who have committed to making their land available. Along with the government-owned land there would be 1,763 [acres] available.”

Benton would love to be the home of the State Fair, but MayorRick Holland said, “Even if this is not picked as the site, the development of the fairgrounds will move forward.”

The Saline County Fair would then boast of new stateof-the-art facilities that would attract exhibitors, visitors and advertisers from around the state all year long.

However, now the focus is clearly on bringing the Arkansas State Fair to Benton. Jones said the proposal to the Arkansas Livestock Show Association, which owns and operates the fair, emphasized the work that has already been done.

Preliminary environmental studies and detailed plans have already been completed, and Jones said that means the development could be “fast tracked” to completion.

“With the planning, studies are already done, the Fairplex is ‘shovel ready’ in 120 days, and total construction would take 18 to 24 months,” she said.

This would allow fair officials to advance planning and reduce costs.

According to the communities’ proposal on the fair, other advantages would be:

◊Because of past use of the site as an airport, the terrain is nearly level, making the site easier to walk, and would improve handicapped accessibility to facilities. The proposed site is not on the floodplain, with sufficient grade for drainage.

◊The site is next to Interstate 30, which is a six-lane interstate at the site, and is also accessible from state highways 5, 38, 88 and 183, along with U.S. highways 67 and 70. The plan also calls for nine vehicle access points to the fairgrounds.

◊An economic study has been completed that indicates a positive cash f low for the Fairplex.

◊Infrastructure including sewer, water, natural gas and electrical utilities are in place at the site.

◊There is room for more than 200 recreational vehicles and trailers and as many as 4,500 cars.

When the fair was not in town, the facility would still attract exhibitions and shows t hat wou ld d raw v isitors who would stay in the hotels from Bryant, Benton and Hot Springs.

Plans include a main area that can be adapted for all kinds of equestrian events, basketball tournaments, trade shows and concerts with up to 8,500 seats. The design also can be expanded for another deck with space for 3,500 additional spectators.

The Fairplex proposal also includes buildings that would be used as multipurpose community centers throughout the year.

Holland said if the fair was in Benton, he would also want to see the return of the traditional State Fair parade, which is no longer done in Little Rock.

“We have lived with this project for two years,” Jones said. “We have tried to think of everything.” - wbryan@ arkansasonline.com

Tri-Lakes, Pages 143 on 11/01/2009