Community Commentary -- Curt Pringle

On behalf of the Orange County Fair board, I want to respond to the

April 21 editorial, regarding the future of the Orange County Fair in

Costa Mesa (“Don’t let the fair slip away”). Let me state up front that

the fair board has not taken a position on relocating the fairgrounds to

a new location nor do we have any plans to do so.

Since 1949, the fair’s home has been here in the city of Costa Mesa.

We have enjoyed a great relationship with the city and our neighbors and

we truly appreciate the continued support, services and resources of the

city and local businesses. However, as the Orange County community grows

and changes, it is important that the fair continually reevaluate itself

to ensure that we are doing our job.

Based upon that desire, therefore, the fair board and staff have been

actively engaged over the past 18 months in a master plan process looking

at all aspects of our operation and infrastructure. Key components under

evaluation include community programs hosted at the fair and the

development of additional physical resources to support the growing

demands of diverse community programs and fair time activities. The

master plan has been and will continue to be a 10-year vision for the

fairgrounds in the city of Costa Mesa.

With limited property opportunities at this site and in concert with

our development of a master plan, the fair board directed staff to

identify satellite locations for the expansion of new community programs.

In November 2001, we submitted a bid to manage the equestrian stables

on the former El Toro Marine Base. The bid was for a concept titled “The

Ranch,” a program that models Centennial Farm and offers youth the

opportunity to partake in agricultural and educational programs.

In January 2002, we lost the bid for a 60-acre location at El Toro.

Despite those results, the fair board remained committed to pursuing a

location for “The Ranch.”

Since March 5 and the passage of Measure W, the Great Park Initiative,

many county leaders have been looking at ways to develop the property at

the former El Toro Marine Base with respect to the wishes of the

countywide vote. We have been very pleased to be considered as a

potential recipient of property on the base. The fact that the Orange

County Fair & Exposition Center has been identified as a possible

participant on the El Toro Marine Base is both exciting and encouraging.

When the fair was mentioned, however, many people jumped to the

conclusion that relocation was imminent. That is just not the case.

If we are included in the final El Toro plan, we would be most

pleased. Our first step would be to focus on those programs, such as “The

Ranch,” that we are prohibited from providing here due to space

restrictions and lack of equestrian trails. We would next look to see how

we could provide additional community programs at that location. It would

be our desire to see how we could use any asset provided to the fair for

the full benefit of our community.

In our 100-year history in the county, the fair has served as a

community resource, offering services, entertainment and educational

programs. This mission will continue to remain strong for another

century, and with that we hope to continue to build a strong and

respectful relationship with our Costa Mesa neighbors as we look to grow

and improve.

This year’s Orange County Fair is a good example of our exciting

future and it is shaping up to be another “rousing success.”

We anticipate that there will be many more successful years in the

city of Costa Mesa and hope you will continue to find the fair “a city

tradition and favorite.”

* CURT PRINGLE is president of the Orange County Fair & Exposition

Center’s Board of Directors.