Caldwell leaders, fair, rodeo and college discuss proposed land trade and coordination for event district

City and county officials met with Caldwell Event Center stakeholders on an exchange of properties intended to consolidate the county fair, the Caldwell Rodeo and the College of Idaho’s athletics facilities and to free land for upgrades and parking.

The mayor opened the workshop by emphasizing that “this is a workshop, which means no decisions are made,” and city and county staff framed the discussion as a fact‑finding, planning and coordination meeting rather than a formal action.

City staff outlined a conceptual property trade in which the city would convey what it labels Parcel 2 (an area including Christmas Park, subject to deed restrictions) to the county in exchange for Parcels 3A (the indoor arena) and 3B (the Ag Extension office at 501 Main Street). Staff said initial, informal market estimates — not a formal appraisal — put Parcel 2 at about $5.9 million, Parcel 3A at about $4.7 million and Parcel 3B at about $833,000, producing roughly comparable aggregate values for the two sides. City staff said no formal appraisal has yet been completed.

Stakeholders described potential benefits and concerns. County fair…