Alabama State Fairgrounds

The Alabama State Fairgrounds are located in West End, adjacent to the Five Points West shopping area. Birmingham International Raceway is located inside the gates of the Fairgrounds. In addition to the racetrack (which also hosts high school football games), there is a go-kart track and batting cages on the premises, though both are inactive at present. The parking lot has a capacity of 7,500 cars.

The State Fair Arena and Exposition Building cover a combined total of 110,000 square feet. The 117-acre fairgrounds were acquired by the City of Birmingham in 1947.

For many years, the grounds were home to the Alabama State Fair. The grandstand (now BIR) was home to both automobile and harness racing, as well as shows and concerts. The statue of Vulcan, which is now a Birmingham landmark atop Red Mountain, was originally displayed at the Fairgrounds, either whole or in pieces during its construction.

The state fair discontinued regular use of the facility because of poor attendance and high crime in the adjacent neighborhood. The Alabama State Fair Authority went bankrupt, and was dissolved sometime around the year 2001. No state fair has been held on a regular basis since. (The "Alabama National Fair" in Montgomery is unrelated.)

"Kiddieland," a small amusement park located at the Fairgrounds, was a popular attraction for many years but closed in the early 1990s. A steam locomotive which once worked on the St Louis & San Francisco Railway is on display on the grounds.

Redevelopment

Shortly after taking office in November 2007 Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford proposed a large-scale redevelopment of Fair Park which would combine athletic facilities with residential, retail and entertainment facilities. The centerpiece of the redevelopment would be indoor track and swimming facilities. In April 2008 he approached the Birmingham City Council with a proposal to use $55 million in city funds to initiate construction. He publicized letters of intent from developers interested in building hotels, a grocery store, and an athletic apparel store in the area as well as a $500,000 commitment from the Alabama High School Athletic Association, which would use the proposed indoor track for statewide championship meets.

According to the mayor's office, $29 million would come from business license fees which were increased in the Birmingham Economic and Community Revitalization Ordinance. Those revenues were earmarked to service bonds for construction of a domed stadium, but bonds would not be issued until 2009. Other funding would come from money earmarked for schools in the Bell Plan (to be used for the athletic facilities), from an economic development fund created by a sales tax increase in the community revitalization ordinance, and from money budgeted to completed or inactive projects and previous allocations to the park.

Later phases would create an "Olympic Village" style residential area with green spaces and high-rise apartments.

References

• Alabama State Fairgrounds. (2007, July 10). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:48, October 30, 2007 [1]
• Bryant, Joseph D. (April 5, 2008) "Fair Park development includes Marriott, Foot Locker, grocery, Birmingham mayor says." Birmingham News