The New York State Fair is just a few days away, and fairgoers will likely have to reset their internal GPS when they arrive on the fairgrounds. In part one of our preview series, what you’re likely to see after the first significant changes to the grounds in eight decades.
If you’ve passed by the fairgrounds recently, the most visible change from the front is a new main gate…
“We put up this new stone and art structure and the concrete promenade across it and the new signage behind Chevy Court. I think that sets the tone for the fairgoer when they first walk in.”
Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner says visitors will get a better sense of the historic beauty of the fairground’s buildings. Vendors have also been moved out of Chevy Court to create a more welcoming space. But that’s not the only new gate…
“On your map it will be gate 11-A. This is part of the county’s project to improve the Bridge Street streetscape, Part of it is to widen the sidewalk, but also to put in an entrance gate here.”
Fair spokesperson Dave Bullard says it’ll be for pedestrians only; meanwhile, gate 12 will be restricted to vehicular traffic. But he says perhaps the most noticeable change will be where the track and midway converged.
“Between the dairy products and horticulture building, the entrance walk that people make every year, it's going to be so different. A lot of open space.”
“As flat as an Iowa cornfield out there,” adds Waffner
63 acres is now home to a 315-space R-V park, Kiddieland, and the Midway. Bullard says it’s a big improvement.
“More space and a nice rectangular layout. The old Midway, that we had for 70 years, wrapped around the track in a kind-of bent triangle that was really wide on one end and extremely narrow on the other.”
“At one point you got down to a 50-foot width,” Waffner says. “So on big days people would be fighting their way through there between vendors and the people walking.”
HOW TO NAVIGATE THE NEW FAIRGROUNDS FROM PARKING TO FOOD VENDORS
The 50 million dollar transformation of the Fairgrounds not only means changes in what visitors will see and experience when the fair opens next week, but also how they will get around. Changes begin when you first arrive.
Most people who visit the fair come by car. If you used to enter through gates 6 and 7 to park in the gray lot, Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner says that’s now reserved exclusively for employees, vendors, exhibitors, and those with disabilities. Everyone else now has to park in the pink, brown, and orange lots.
“That’s going to be a big change because gate 6 and 7 were popular because you’re on the same side of the road. This is going to be a change, in terms of the orange lot, we’re working with Centro to make sure the shuttles flow better, because obviously we’re going to utilizing those lots to a much greater degree than we have in the past.”
Waffner says they’ve never reached capacity on parking, and still don’t expect to, despite losing more than a thousand spots. He says they’re working with Centro to make park and ride more efficient, and to improve shuttle service from the distant orange lot. Once on the grounds, Waffner says more visitors may be tempted to take the tram, now that it’s free thanks to a sponsorship by Chevrolet.
“This year we’re actually going to have (the trams) follow the same basic route they always have. The reality is we opened up 63 acres of land and there’s a lot more walking involved. So we’re going to see how the traffic flows and then decide going into 2017 about more added tram service.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge for fairgoers will be finding that favorite foodstand.
“We understand change is hard; changing tradition is very hard. The plus is most of the reasons people come to the fair are still here, but the biggest problem is going to be finding them.”
Especially with the removal of the track. Waffner says they’re working to update their food finder app.
“The problem is everybody’s landmark is gone now. It’s going to take a while for people to figure that out and obviously we’ve moved a lot of vendors. But I think when people get used to it, the flow of traffic is gong to go much better because we have wide roadways and wide (walkways) and it’s going to make it much easier.”
Because, Waffner says, roads won’t be so congested with vendors.
THE FUTURE HOLDS EVEN MORE CHANGES FOR THE FAIRGROUNDS AND FAIRGOERS
Wrapping up our preview of changes you’ll see at the New York State Fair , we look at some of the improvements slated for the future. Plans to open up more space will allow visitors to enjoy new activities.
Your trip to the state fair this year will present you with some big changes…a new main entrance that harkens back to history; the midway moved, and no racetrack or grandstand. You also might have to look around for favorite food stands…and notice less cluttered walkways and a more open Chevy Court concert area. But lots of the overhaul is still to come…including a new feature on what was the track infield.
“Unless you had a horse you wouldn’t go back there, Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner. Now it’s going to be a 7-8 acre parkland with trails, and we’re looking at plans to eventually turn the racing stables which includes a 7000 square foot rotunda into vendor space and restaurant space and make it a whole festival within the fairgrounds.”
Another area, fair spokesperson Dave Bullard notes, will focus on life in New York.
“We know about New York City, but New York is an outdoor state as well, with the mountains and the lakes and fishing and all that. So this area, which is fenced off this year, will highlight that. The centerpiece of it is this large multi-acre water feature.”
The feature could have trails and paddleboats as a new fair experience.
Waffner sees more positive growth, while noting things might seem strange for those who’ve come for years.
“I think it’s brought us a long way. Next year we’re going to do work around Chevy Court; we’re going to improve the horse barns; we did a great project with the horse stalls, ripped out the old ones and put in some new ones. We’re going to do some roof replacements and just going to start building out the fairgrounds now that the major work has been done.”
The 2016 New York State Fair will show off all the improvements and changes to date when it opens on Thursday, August 26th. Waffner adds unseen work on infrastructure and repairs will also help the fairgrounds attract business the other 50 weeks of the year.
