San Jose

Board of Supervisors Mull Replacing 150-Acre Santa Clara County Fairgrounds With Park, Recreational Facilities

A prime piece of South Bay real estate took one step closer Wednesday to the facelift it’s been waiting for.

San Jose leaders have stewed over the future of the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds for decades. Now, work on a blue print is underway.

The Board of Supervisors envisions the 150-acre underutilized plot to be split. One half, they hope, will be converted into traditional park and open space area while the other will be transformed into a sports complex with softball, baseball and other recreational facilities.

"They want a grand vision for the fairgrounds – something that will benefit the community, and not only you and me, but our kids and grandkids," Santa Clara County Director of Economic Development Bruce Knopf said.

Richard Gonzalez, who visited the fairgrounds Wednesday, weighed in on the board’s plans, deeming them "good."

"I think they can utilize the land at the fairgrounds a lot better than what they’re doing," he said.

Gonzalez, however, said he hopes the board and development plans won’t interfere with the satellite racing venue.

"I don’t come here with a lot of money," he said. "It’s something to do and I don’t have to travel far to do it."

Meanwhile, the annual 3-day county fair, scheduled this year from Aug. 4 to7, draws only a small number of visitors, so the board is mulling moving the event to another location.

"We’re going to see how to best accommodate the needs of the annual fair," Knopf said.
 

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