Cortland Fairgrounds. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith).
County of Cortland Agriculture Corporation officials and Cortland County Fairgrounds administrators are seeking federal funding to overhaul the fairgrounds’ electrical installation, water systems and security measures.
Agriculture Corporation president Jennifer Thomas presented the $50,000 plan to perform key upgrades to the fairgrounds at Tuesday’s Federal Aid Allocation Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting. She cited the venue’s potential to attract visitors from all across the region as a financial boon to the county.
Thomas said the Agriculture Corporation is seeking to perform the following upgrades to the fairgrounds:
- Install electric lines and hook-ups for use during events by campers.
- Install six or seven cameras and wiring for the overall security system that is being planned. These improvements would help decrease vandalism to the facilities and ensure safety during events, Thomas said.
- Patch potholes and uneven and low areas that pose a safety hazard in the parking areas.
- Relocate water lines. Thomas said the water meter is currently located in a manhole. While this met regulations when installed, current regulations prohibit this for health and safety reasons, she added.
- Installation of camper and recreational vehicle dumping station, which Thomas said has been requested by the Cortland County Health Department.
- Updates to lighting in the facilities.
- Provide better signage to help guide visitors to the fairgrounds.
- Renovations and replacement of several outdated wood bleachers sections.
“(The Agriculture Corporation) is solely run by volunteers who manage and maintain the fairgrounds. Our goal is to host more events for the youth of Cortland County, as well as rent the facility to other events,” Thomas said. “The rental income helps with the cost of maintaining the facility from year to year, but does not allow for major projects or improvements.”
Thomas said in the past two years the corporation has worked with grants from the United States Department of Agriculture and other funding avenues facilitated by the local Cornell Cooperative Extension to add electrical upgrades and install heating for the bathroom facilities.
Thomas noted the events hosted at the fairgrounds range from rabbit and dairy shows, to the Cortland County Jr. Fair and the New York State’s Draft Horse Sale. The events bring in hundreds of visitors from all over New York.
“These out-of-state people stay in our local hotels and eat at our local restaurants,” she said. “With Cortland County being in the center of New York, every event at the fairgrounds has the potential to bring in out-of-county as well as out-of-state guests that positively impact our local economy.”
County Legislator Sandra Price (D-LD 14) commended volunteers who take care of the fairground.
“I was sitting here listening to the presentation, and thinking that those fairgrounds have been part of my life,” Price said. “Lots of people enjoy the fairgrounds. I know all of you have been given tirelessly volunteer time to make it so successful. Thank you for that.”
Legislature Chair Paul Heider (R-LD 16), who said he worked closely with the Agriculture Corporation in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, highlighted the organization’s work.
“They had at least six events during the pandemic, and they did them very safely,” Heider said. “They (safely) brought in hundreds of folks to the county during the pandemic.”
