As the 2022 Delaware County Fair is set to get underway on Saturday, Sept.17, patrons will notice some new improvements to the grounds since their last visit to the fair.

Included in the improvements was a paving project that saw both the main fairgrounds entrance at Berne Street and the Euclid Avenue entrance paved. The new pavement, which was completed in July and was funded using revenues from the bed tax, extends all the way around the new Agricultural Center/Junior Fair Building and up to the midway. The parking lot in front of the Ag Center was also paved and striped.

Jennifer McGowan, who was hired in April to serve as the next fair manager, said new wash stalls have been installed in the junior fair area of the fairgrounds. Two horse barns have also been “completely gutted” and rebuilt, according to McGowan, and the plan moving forward is to assess each barn and how they can be improved without having to build new structures.

For those racing or assisting trainers at the track, the horsemen’s bathroom has been completely revamped with new floors, stalls and sinks. McGowan said improving the bathroom was important given that there are people who work at the track all throughout the year.

“We have people who work here year-round with the horses for the trainers, and they use that bathroom and that’s their shower, so we wanted to make it nice for them,” she said.

Tom Wright, the race secretary for the Delaware County Agricultural Society, said approximately $20,000 was invested in each of the three structures, adding, “These are very well-structured buildings that simply needed cleaned up.”

Horse racing fans looking to place bets this fall will be able to enjoy revamped betting windows, which McGowan said have been repainted and fitted with new hardware.

McGowan added, “The goal is, after the fair, to keep continuing to upgrade all of these things. And with the bed tax, we’re able to do a lot of these projects that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. So, we’re very thankful for that.”

With the opening of the new Ag Center last year, which now houses the new fair office, the previous fair office building no longer exists as of last month. The area was leveled out and covered with gravel, and it will be used for additional parking this year. McGowan said she’s not yet sure what the future plans for the area may be at this time.

Perhaps the biggest improvements set to come to the fairgrounds involve the renovation of the grandstands, although the physical reconstruction has not yet begun. Wright said phase one is currently underway, with the architectural drawing completed and the bidding process set to begin soon. The first phase will address the restrooms, the simulcast room, and the tote room, as well as replace the exterior of the south side of the grandstand.

The plan is to have phase one renovations completed by the spring, according to Wright, before moving on to phase two, which will address the seating areas of the grandstand.

Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on Twitter @DillonDavis56.