EDITORIAL
Fair Association has ‘rebuilt’ park, done it for free, gave it to city (us)
Let’s do a thought experiment. Imagine your town has an organization that brings itself to near-exhaustion one weekend every year, and does so to help the area’s children learn the responsibility, and satisfaction, of honest work.
Let’s further imagine that same organization occupies much of the remaining 51 weeks of the year by building new structures, and renovating the old ones, in a 125-year-old-plus recreational facility.
And then giving all those structures away.
That’s no thought experiment. That’s the Rockdale Fair Association.
Everybody knows about the Fair’s work for 4-H and FFA youth which has raised over $8-million during the past 44 years, much of going into college scholarships.
But did you know in 36 of those 44 years the RFA has made some spectacular, and extensive, improvements to Fair Park, then given them away.
To the city. (That’s us).
Here’s some of the highlights, by no means a complete list:
• This year—Built rock pad for carnival area, hoping to avoid swamp forming as it did in torrential rains last year; added sand and improved drainage in rodeo arena, ditto.
• 2017—Built 60-by-200 foot commercial heifer barn; purchased additional commercial heifer pens; purchased new pig pens; painted rodeo holding pens.
• 2013-2014—Bought two lots on corner of Walnut and Hairston in park vicinity, bought property at 629 Hairston, all providing for expanded parking.
• 2012—Water and electrical upgrades for barbecue area; purchased additional commercial heifer pens, electrical upgrades and improvement; repainted throughout park.
• 2010—Built expansion on east side of old livestock barn; upgraded token booth, purchased exhibitors’ animal pens and commercial heifer pens.
• 2003—Purchased Mill Street house and lot.
• 2002—Resurfaced park roads; installed railings along road; replaced wire in rodeo pens.
• 2001—Build southeast gate gazebo structure. Continued program of tree-planting.
• 1998—Expanded and covered rodeo bleachers. (Note—this was a real biggie. If you remember the old rodeo bleachers you will know what we’re talking about).
• 1996—Show ring and livestock barn expansion, built livestock office, concession stand and restrooms.
• 1994—Land purchase (Morgan property), added restrooms.
• 1991—Three land purchases.
• 1990—New women’s restroom; livestock barn renovation, hard-surfaced streets.
• 1985—New HD Clubhouse.
• 1982—New park pavilion.
• 1980—Perimeter fence around Fair Park.
• 1977—Original livestock barn expansion.
Just thought you should know.—M.B.
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