Fair Board chart parking grid

A designated parking plan for approximately 60 camper units in the horse barn area of the Palouse Empire Fairground was presented to fair directors at Monday night’s fair board meeting. Fair Manager Bob Reynolds explained the key aim of the plan was safety. He said random parking of camper units, particularly self-contained units, created unsafe conditions in recent fairs. One key element of the plan is to maintain 20-foot fire lanes through the area.

The fair normally has about 150 camper units located on grounds during the four-day run in September. The horse barn area is the triangular area in the southeast corner of the fairground at the intersection of the Endicott Road and Highway 26.

The new parking grid provides 20 X 50 spaces with separate areas designated for self-contained units, hookup units and tents. One vehicle will be allowed to park at each site. Fair secretary Terry Jeffries said prior campers have been notified of the plan in a letter. The new policy will ban ATVs, motorized bicycles and portable fire pits. Dogs will be required to be kept on leash.

Fair participants who rented space at the fair last year have been given the option of reserving space for this year’s fair. The fair’s RV area on the west side of the grounds and the Ousley space on the north end are other places where campers locate during the fair.