State fairgrounds have long been more than just places of entertainment and agriculture, they’re critical community infrastructure that often serve as emergency shelters during disasters. Now, a new bill proposed by San Rafael Assemblymember Damon Connolly aims to streamline and expedite funding for California’s 75 fairgrounds, potentially transforming how these vital spaces are maintained and utilized.

Connolly’s Assembly Bill 1711 would modify the existing Fairs and Exposition Fund, mandating that funds be distributed by December 31st each year. This legislative move addresses a significant challenge: the substantial backlog of deferred maintenance plaguing fairground facilities across the state.

The proposed legislation expands the scope of fundable projects to include emergency service improvements, recognizing the increasingly important role fairgrounds play during climate-related emergencies. In recent years, these spaces have proven crucial during wildfires, serving as emergency evacuation sites and providing critical community support.

Fairgrounds generate revenue through multiple channels, including admission fees, concert and race ticket sales, vendor space rentals, midway attractions, sponsorships, and parking. However, maintaining these complex facilities requires consistent, predictable funding, a gap this bill seeks to address.

Sarah Cummings, president of the Western Fairs Association, highlighted the economic and community significance of these spaces, describing them as “economic engines, community gathering places and essential emergency response assets”.

The bill represents a strategic approach to infrastructure investment, ensuring that revenue generated by fairgrounds is reinvested systematically. For instance, the Marin County fairgrounds has already demonstrated forward-thinking sustainability by installing solar photovoltaic systems and achieving green business certification.

As California continues to face increasing environmental challenges, innovative approaches to community infrastructure become ever more critical. Connolly’s proposed legislation offers a promising framework for supporting and enhancing these multifunctional public spaces.