Columbia City Council accepts fairgrounds property
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
More than 100 acres of the former Boone County fairgrounds property now belongs to the city of Columbia.
The Columbia City Council accepted the land on Monday night after months of negotiations with the county. The approval brings in 135 acres of land of the Central Missouri Events Center for use by the city's Parks and Recreation Department.
ABC 17 News covered the deal between the two governments last year. City leaders hope to build its portion of the land as a recreation complex, including track and field and other sports amenities.
A map of the development shows the city hopes to build five synthetic turf fields, four baseball/softball fields and an eight-lane track facility. The area will also have two "large shelters with inclusive playground," according to the documents attached to the city council agenda.
The city will take over the land northeast of Highway 63 and Oakland Gravel Road. At least 29 acres are set aside for use by the Boone County Fair Board, including the car lot and show barns. The fair board and city must work out an agreement for the fair in the future.
The county will keep control of another portion of land north of the area. Any development on that land must meet city code, and the area will be annexed into the city once developed, according to the agreement.
The city said costs of maintaining the land will be offset by existing leases on the land with the United States Postal Service and Veterans United. Those leases will bring in $40,000 a year until they expire at the end of 2022.
