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Out with the old, in with the new
Major change at fairgrounds
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[MARCH 8, 2004]
As you drive by the corner
of Woodlawn Road and Lincoln Parkway, you may notice it is looking a
little spacious over at the Logan County Fairgrounds. Workers have
been gradually taking the old grandstand down.
[Pictures of the demolition]
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The old covered grandstand is being
replaced with aluminum bleachers. The bleachers will seat close to
the same or possibly more than the previous structure.
Like at many other fairgrounds around
Illinois, the local fair board has been considering what to do with
the aging structure for the last three to four years. With its last
inspection a structural engineer said it either needed a lot of work
done or seating needed to be removed. Neither of those options was
considered practical.
The board looked around at what is
being done in other locations around the state. The Macoupin fair
board recently replaced their grandstand. Seating with a capacity of
only 800 cost $200,000 and was paid for by Illinois FIRST money.
They also built a roof over it at an additional $100,000.
The board had its hand forced in
choosing to go to the bleachers, John Fulton said. Unless you have
huge year-round use, it is cost-prohibitive to maintain a
grandstand.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Contributing factors include:
It was hoped to salvage the current
roof, but it was discovered during the takedown process that the
cross-bracing was built into the stands. The roof will not be
replaced at this time. The roof will be missed most during daytime
horse races when the sun is bearing down strong. During evenings the
sun is not a factor. Rain is not a factor either since events are
usually canceled by rain.
Safety will
not be a concern any longer with the new bleachers, and they will be
just in time for the newest event at the fairgrounds. Weekly car
racing begins in May.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
