Improvements to fairgrounds in the works

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The fairgrounds in Castle Dale will be expanding in size soon. After several years in the works, Castle Dale City will purchase the old forest service house on Main Street along with the horse corral. This added property will allow Castle Dale City to offer further amenities to fair goers as well as to people using the park for company parties and family reunions and picnics. Another pavilion will be placed somewhere on the fairgrounds so two different groups can use the facility at the same time.
Castle Dale Mayor Neal Peacock is excited about the additional ground which will become available. Plans are underway to demolish the old house and garage. Mayor Peacock wants to preserve the trees that are growing on the new property. One large pine tree will have to be removed due to visibility issues along Main Street. The other trees will be maintained for shade.
Mayor Peacock said Castle Dale City will prepare an application to present to the Community Impact Board to get a grant for the fairground improvements including a stage and pavilion. “I envision a nice stage with dressing rooms and bathrooms. We want a permanent stage. When the military band came to town the present stage was too small for the band.”
Mayor Peacock and county commissioners Jeff Horrocks, James Nelson and Laurie Pitchforth met on the fairgrounds to look for suitable locations for the pavilion and stage. No decisions were made at the time, but a number of options were considered including an underground amphitheater. The various options also included looking at the area where the least amount of noise from the Main Street would affect the stage area. The placement of the pavilion and stage will be crucial to keep noise down so the performers on stage can be heard.
The group also discussed problems with parking at the county fair in August. Mayor Peacock said parking was available at the rear of the rodeo arena where the cowboy participants park during the rodeo. This large area is available for parking during the fair, but it wasn’t widely known among fair goers. Next year more emphasis will be placed on letting people know this large lot is available to park in during the fair.
Talk also centered around the possible relocation of one of the ball fields at the fairgrounds to near the cemetery so one of the ball fields at the fairgrounds could be turned into a parking area. Mayor Peacock said he would like to keep the ball fields easily accessible to youth on their bikes.
It was also mentioned during the meeting that a large permanent sign advertising local events would be a nice addition to the fairgrounds.
An entire upgrade of the electrical system at the fairgrounds is needed to accommodate vendors who use power at their booths.
Mayor Peacock said, “Castle Dale City is committed to make this (fairground improvements) happen.”
Mayor Peacock asked for whatever help Emery County can give to make these improvements a reality. The commissioners said budget time is approaching and they will consider the matter during their budget sessions. They invited Mayor Peacock to present his ideas at commission meeting before budget time.
Castle Dale City has put a lot of money into upgrades for the fairgrounds. This season they built a stage and reroofed the current pavilion. During the fair the pavilion was filled to capacity at various events and fairgoers spilled out the sides of the pavilion onto the lawn.
Mayor Peacock said anyone wishing to make comments or suggestions for the improvements at the fairgrounds is welcome to contact him at Castle Dale City.