Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Renovation to Start Soon
Date Posted: February 27, 2024
Posted In: Discussion,
From Herald Publications: Visible signs of a major renovation project upgrading Belle-Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville should be seen in the next few weeks as, if all goes as planned, the first step regarding preliminary work on the installation of a new roof on the Exposition Building at this location is expected to start sometime in March or April.
St. Clair County Director of Buildings James S. Brede, while noting the improvements are by and large being financed by $14 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, noted the timeline additionally consists of changes to the main entry road into the Fairgrounds property, construction of a new 6000-square-foot wood-framed, metal-sided maintenance and storage shed and replacing the heating, air conditioning, plumbing and ventilation equipment plus the electrical system.
The Fairgrounds property has for many decades served as the location for numerous public events such as a monthly flea market, a site for construction trades professionals to share career information with local area high school students, shows featuring antiques, crafts, hobby items, automobilia, woodcarver creations, brewery-related collectibles, guns and weaponry and, more recently, hosting Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling matches.
As part of the renovation, the St. Clair County Public Building Commission has authorized entering into a contract with Hurford Architects Inc. of Glen Carbon for a facilities and grounds study in order to determine specifically what needs to be done to bring the property, which has not received any such attention for quite some time, up to safe, efficient and manageable contemporary standards.