F. Existing Facility Assessment

F. Existing Facilities Assessment

The Research team (UF | CHU and Fairground stakeholders) toured the facilities on April 15th 2022, to observed the existing fairgrounds complex, document the existing conditions of the facilities, including the grounds and parking areas, the buildings, circulation and public space provision, and the infrastructural and landscape aspects. It was a very instructive visit, as the team was able to bring to the general attention not only the real conditions on the grounds, but also the qualified assessment of the partners and stakeholders.

1. Overall appearance and conditions of site, buildings, and grounds

a. Adequacy of existing spaces for Fair and other public event functions

- The conditions of the site are good but given the excellent location and its potential for improvement, the site offers great promise to achieve a much higher performance in activities and appearance. - The condition of the existing buildings is excellent, denoting very careful maintenance of the well equipped interior spaces. except for the Farm Bureau Building, which requires a new roof due to leaking issues. The existing facilities can host the fair and other activities that are historically developed in the grounds. (Fairs, Farmers market etc.) - New activities that have been performed in the last five years though, require the addition of new venues to adequately provide the space for their execution. These would include, among others, the ONE HEALTH outlook towards the pandemic conditions and provisions site, the energy conservation and generation new standards, the Risk Mitigation and Sustainability education, Water conservation and management, the Conservation and enjoyment of Ecologically Significant tracts in the County and adjoining counties.

b. Conditions of existing space relative to competitors.

- We refer as competition, other Fairgrounds in the vicinity, being them, state or County operated. It is important to note the superior provision of enclosed serviced space of the Volusia Fair grounds in comparison with others fairs. The acreage of the VCF is superior to most and aiming at a higher role given the location (Population and accessibility, as well as co-adjutant attractions), it would be desirable to enlarge the grounds, acquiring adjoining parcels.

See Annex A for Volusia County Property Boundaries See Annex B for Fairgrounds Ownership Map

2. Adequacy and conditions of existing site amenities: Paving, walkways, landscape and signage, parking provisions, lighting and drainage conditions.

a. Paving of existing roads is fair at this point, but more paving would be indicated with the provision of additional buildings.

b.There are no Existing walkways in the core area, with severely lack on shading, lighting and urban equipment provisions for the existing activities

c. Landscape evaluation reveals the need of an overall landscape design to provide the Fair Grounds Campus with the creation of an attractive Park atmosphere, with the planting of a significant number of trees providing shade, color andaroma, as well as the enlargement of the water bodies to host didactic ecosystems, uniting the overall complex with the natural vegetation surrounding the area.

d. Signage. The existing signage is technologically obsolete as well as insufficient for the current and future needs.

e. Parking. In a first appraisal, the parking provisions are sufficient, they are free to users, on a first come first served basis. Alternative systems could be explored regarding the establishment of “premium parking”, enlarging hook ups options, and subdividing the sections according to the events requirements. Other discussions could suggest the establishment of shared transportation provisions from outside the fairgrounds.

f. External lighting is insufficient and inadequate to satisfy the needs of the both the early activities of the Farmers Market and the late activities of Fairs and entertainment.

g. Drainage. With the modified rain patterns (stronger concentrated rain events) predicted tendencies, a very serious drainage study should adapt the grounds for flooding resiliency. The difficulties have already been felt strongly enough to demand attention.

3. Adequacy of access points and traffic circulation

a. Access points. The site has three entry points or exits, and the study can generate a simulation of alternatives to optimize the entry/exit sequence, to be submitted for evaluation. The current situation allows the exploration of possibilities. The capacity of the internal roads, could not accommodate through traffic for the use as access to adjoint external developments.

b. Interconnection with existing roads. The site is located adjacent to a strategically important highway node between I4 and SR 44. The interconnection can be improved but it is functional at the time.

4. Adequacy for use for future emergencies.

The Fairgrounds installations were used during the pandemic 2020-2022 as staging for vaccination grounds, given the high accessibility of the site, and its idle capacity during non-events weeks. This very important and strategic use at County, and even Regional level, could be enhanced by the provision of an open-air arena, covered and vehicle accessible. The Master Plan could explore alternatives for its location.

5. Potential for Facility improvement and expansion The Fair Grounds is close to 100 years old (1925) and the Farmers Market close to 50 years old (1973). These anniversaries, and the Community Pride in them should be Celebrated with the inauguration of stages of the improvement plan.

The Research team is exploring the potential for improvement through implementation of infrastructure, landscape and buildings to the existing facilities, and possible annexation of adjoining parcels to protect the integrity of the Agricultural and recreation provisions. The team places a very high value to the philosophical intent of the stakeholders in the promotion and development of the Agricultural culture, values and practices, expanded in the concepts of the XXI century to incorporate Education, Sustainability, Resiliency, Ecological conservation, and Human development.

In the Wildlife territory integrity, we explore the possibility of Volusia performing a leadership role being central in the whole wildlife corridor, the leadership role includes an interpreting station within the fairgrounds coordinating unit for human activities within those areas.

In this sense the team would like to propose alternatives in the creation of Educational and demonstration facilities in the fields of Energy generation and self-sufficiency, Water cycle conservation, Risk Mitigation on Climatic Events, Volusia County Ecosystems and Protected areas Interpretive Center (wildlife corridors), to be added to the important work of IFAS in the adaptation of cultivation to changing conditions, the expanded reach to vulnerable populations of the benefits of the Farmers Market, the Celebration of the rural traditions with an expansion of an Early Florida Historical Village while providing the best possible park land setting for social gatherings.

The Research Team is seeking to coordinate a cohesive public vision for the future with the stakeholders and the constituency, that will guide the Master Plan directives towards a very meaningful contribution to the future of Volusia County through its Fairground asset and key Stakeholders.

See annex D for the Volusia County Fairgrounds Local Plan (existing legislation) See Annex F for Available Property for Sale Information See Annex G for Kilimanjaro Proposed Development Master Plan

6. Available cartography, statistics, and maps

Figure 65.