Parks and Rec to decide fairgrounds relocation

The Stewart Complex in South Carson City is fairground users' preferred site if Carson supervisors opt to move the city's fairground.

However, the Parks and Recreation Commission will decide on Tuesday which of six sites could become home to the fairgrounds.

The Fuji Park Users Association decided last week to choose Stewart, even though it is unclear if state officials are receptive to the idea. Improvements to the site with its location along Clear Creek, mature trees and existing buildings are estimated at $6.7 million.

Parks and Recreation commissioners will have to choose among Stewart and five other sites, including three East Carson Sites they previously deemed unsuitable.

The No. 2 site rests along the Lyon County line on Bureau of Land Management Land. Improvements to the property are estimated at $3.6 million.

The site was the preferred of three East Carson sites when commissioners decided against the sites in March. The county line site, one near Eagle Valley Golf Course and the other off Flint Drive include a terminal for the V&T, event pavilion, exhibit hall, horse barns, parking, small grassy area, livestock/rodeo arena, warm-up arena, parking, overflow parking and RV parking.

The work to find a fairground relocation site comes more than a month after city supervisors opted to explore commercial development of the fairgrounds. Mayor Ray Masayko gave a 90-day deadline to work out options for the fairgrounds, including a suitable relocation site and a definition of potential development at the current site. The city hired a contractor to look at development of the fairgrounds.

The future of the park and fairgrounds have been in limbo since the city decided to sell 18 acres of unused Fuji Park property to Costco in December 1999. Since then, the city's plans for further development in the area has drawn criticism from various community groups.

What: Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission

When: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday

Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.

Stewart site No. 1