March 5, 2018 at 5:38 p.m.
Ready to renovate
Grandstand work is targeted for April
Ready to renovate
Jay County Fairgrounds will have new grandstands this summer, in time for the Jay County Fair in July.
The upgrades, which Jay County Fair Association has been planning for more than a year, call for a complete replacement of the east grandstand, renovations of the middle and west grandstands and new box seats.
Ron Krieg is in charge of the project and said construction is slated to start in April and will likely be completed in May. The demolition work has been done already, and construction can begin once the materials are delivered next month.
The work will make the grandstands safer for those who attend events at the fairgrounds, association president Rob Penrod said.
A child fell through the grandstand gaps a couple of years ago, which helped kick-start the renovation project. The girl was not injured.
“Anything could fall right through the gaps that were existing in the bleachers,” Penrod said. “And (after the renovations) there will be handrails for elderly people to get up and down through the grandstands.”
The association chose to completely replace the east grandstand because it was built with different materials than the other two. Its hollow steel scaffolding can rust on the inside, which would make it unstable.
The middle and west grandstands had wooden seats, flooring and fencing, which will be replaced with aluminum components. There will also be 276 permanent box seats lining the track — in years past, the box seats were folding chairs that were put up and taken down for each event.
The upgrades, which Jay County Fair Association has been planning for more than a year, call for a complete replacement of the east grandstand, renovations of the middle and west grandstands and new box seats.
Ron Krieg is in charge of the project and said construction is slated to start in April and will likely be completed in May. The demolition work has been done already, and construction can begin once the materials are delivered next month.
The work will make the grandstands safer for those who attend events at the fairgrounds, association president Rob Penrod said.
A child fell through the grandstand gaps a couple of years ago, which helped kick-start the renovation project. The girl was not injured.
“Anything could fall right through the gaps that were existing in the bleachers,” Penrod said. “And (after the renovations) there will be handrails for elderly people to get up and down through the grandstands.”
The association chose to completely replace the east grandstand because it was built with different materials than the other two. Its hollow steel scaffolding can rust on the inside, which would make it unstable.
The middle and west grandstands had wooden seats, flooring and fencing, which will be replaced with aluminum components. There will also be 276 permanent box seats lining the track — in years past, the box seats were folding chairs that were put up and taken down for each event.
Penrod said the plans for the east grandstand have been turned in to an Indiana structural engineer, and construction can begin after the plans are approved and the association gets a state permit. State approval is not required for the other renovations.
The entire project is estimated to cost $357,160, Penrod said. National Recreation Systems out of Fort Wayne will be doing the work.
The association received a $160,000 grant from The Portland Foundation, $50,000 from Indiana State Fair Commission, $20,000 from Jay County Commissioners and other financial help from private donors. It still needs about $38,000 to cover the project and will continue raising money. The Sportsman Outdoor Show, Sale and Auction from April 13 to 15 will benefit the project.
Also planned for this spring is paving of a new exit from the fairgrounds. It was implemented last year at the east side of the fairgrounds and exits onto Morton Street. The association received a grant from The Portland Foundation to cover the paving work, which will cost about $5,962.
“It’s helped,” said Penrod. “We’ve had so many close calls with the old exit as far as accidents at the intersection during the fair. Having this (exit) come out to Morton Street and having a clear left and right view allows for a safer exit than the angled exit.”
Krieg is looking forward to getting the projects started soon.
“I’m just glad we’re getting down to the end of them and so thankful for all the support we’ve received from our community,” Krieg said. “Portland Foundation just needs a great big pat on the back.”
The entire project is estimated to cost $357,160, Penrod said. National Recreation Systems out of Fort Wayne will be doing the work.
The association received a $160,000 grant from The Portland Foundation, $50,000 from Indiana State Fair Commission, $20,000 from Jay County Commissioners and other financial help from private donors. It still needs about $38,000 to cover the project and will continue raising money. The Sportsman Outdoor Show, Sale and Auction from April 13 to 15 will benefit the project.
Also planned for this spring is paving of a new exit from the fairgrounds. It was implemented last year at the east side of the fairgrounds and exits onto Morton Street. The association received a grant from The Portland Foundation to cover the paving work, which will cost about $5,962.
“It’s helped,” said Penrod. “We’ve had so many close calls with the old exit as far as accidents at the intersection during the fair. Having this (exit) come out to Morton Street and having a clear left and right view allows for a safer exit than the angled exit.”
Krieg is looking forward to getting the projects started soon.
“I’m just glad we’re getting down to the end of them and so thankful for all the support we’ve received from our community,” Krieg said. “Portland Foundation just needs a great big pat on the back.”
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