Council hears first reading of five-year update to Fairgrounds Park campus master plan

City Administrator Steve Park presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 15-27 on Feb. 25, an update to the five-year campus master plan for the Marshfield Fairgrounds Park campus. The plan documents current site conditions, ownership of parcels and short-term needs while noting several larger improvements that may occur beyond the five-year horizon.

Park said the five-year campus master plan is primarily a coordination and planning tool to allow the city and entities such as the Central Wisconsin State Fair Board to align infrastructure and timing. "The intent of the 5 year campus master plan is, really for cooperation between the city and those particular entities," he said.

The update describes current conditions across city-owned parcels and fairboard-owned parcels and lists possible long-range projects that were discussed at the public hearing, including a new 26,000-square-foot horse arena and roof structure, a larger expo building, improved stormwater management, new restrooms and shower facilities, and new barns. Park said several of those items are likely 10–20 year projects that will require separate funding and planning; stormwater and dust-control concerns were raised at the plan commission public hearing and by neighbors.

Park said the five-year plan can be amended within the five-year window if conditions change and emphasized the plan should be treated as a planning tool rather than a fixed set of actions. The item was a first reading and no council vote was required; Park said it will return for second reading in two weeks.