Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Fairs Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Snohomish County parks present Evergreen Fair Park upgrades: attendance and concert revenue up, $1.6M grandstand roof planned
Summary
Parks staff updated the Planning and Community Development Committee on Evergreen Fair Park: attendance rose 1.5% from 2023, projected fair revenue is just over $5 million, expenses around $3.2 million, concert ticket sales jumped 161%, and phase‑1 grandstand roof replacement is budgeted at $1.6 million starting after the 2025 season.
Snohomish County Parks leaders — Sharon Walker, parks division director; Kara Underwood, parks division manager; and Mike Olsen, Fair Park manager — briefed the Planning and Community Development Committee on Jan. 21 about recent Evergreen State Fair operations, capital needs and revenue development plans.
"Attendance was up 1.5% from 2023," said Kara Underwood, parks division manager, reporting that carnival revenue rose about 0.79%, parking revenue declined about 2%, and concert ticket sales increased 161%. Staff said projected fair revenue for the most recent year was just over $5,000,000 and that expenses — using 2023 figures — were about $3.2 million to produce the fair.
Parks staff described several capital and operational priorities at the Evergreen Fair Park. Mike Olsen, Fair Park manager, said the park is pursuing a multi‑decade, multi‑million‑dollar drainage plan to address aging stormwater infrastructure and is seeking grant funding to support design and construction. Olsen also reported that the grandstands will undergo a phase‑1 upgrade consisting of a new roof replacement budgeted at $1,600,000, scheduled to begin immediately after the 2025 fair season.
The presentation noted recent and planned facility improvements funded from grants and county resources: new livestock panels, upgrades to animal wash racks (flooring and plumbing), restroom plumbing and partition upgrades, and ADA‑compliant entry doors for Display Hall 1. Staff said several grants that supported these upgrades are concluding in May of the current year.
On revenue development and sponsorships, Olsen said parks staff recently closed a request for proposals to hire a broker to help revamp the Fair Park sponsorship program and pursue more year‑round events. Staff said the motorsports indoor season completed successfully and the parks team organized a new community holiday event, Holiday Spark, which staff described as well received and intended to broaden year‑round community use of the grounds.
Committee members thanked staff for the presentation and asked follow‑up questions about concert strategy and roof and roof repair plans for older display halls. Staff said valley repairs and re‑screwing steel are planned for older roofs to reduce leaks before more extensive replacement work.
No formal action was taken; the item was for committee discussion and informational update only.
