Lack of control over prominent fairgrounds site irks Sarasota officials

County commissioners learn that as long as the 54-acre parcel near downtown hosts an agricultural fair, it can never reclaimed by the county.

By Andrew Warfield
| 5:18 p.m. June 9, 2024
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County commissioners recently discussed the highest and best use of the fairgrounds site at 3000 Ringling Blvd.

Manatee-Sarasota

During its fall 2023 workshop, the Sarasota County Commission directed staff to study the highest and best use of the 54-acre fairgrounds property along Fruitville Road, and whether such higher and better use can even occur there.

At issue is that the county conveyed 14 acres in 1947 to the Sarasota County Agricultural Fair Association, plus 40 more acres in 1964, and unless the association fails to stage an agricultural fair there for two consecutive years, it will retain ownership in perpetuity.

In addition to the fair, the site is used for events in Robarts Arena, county job fairs, emergency responder vehicle driver training and post-disaster staging for emergency utility restoration.