Bernalillo County leaders are exploring redevelopment ideas for Expo New Mexico by studying how other U.S. cities have transformed their fairgrounds into year-round economic drivers.

Learning from Other Cities

Adriann Barboa, who represents the district that includes the fairgrounds, was among the leaders who traveled to Nashville, Cincinnati, and Louisville to learn from their successes. Barboa noted that consistent investment in the community is key to its success.

In Louisville, Barboa saw firsthand how the city has leveraged cultural needs and wants to host 365 events a year, driving economic development on the property. The vision for redevelopment begins at Expo New Mexico, where approved bond money could be used to acquire land, fund traffic and pedestrian safety upgrades, and carve out space for a new park.

Depending on final approvals, the site could also include a future stadium. As final site proposals move through the board, leaders emphasized the importance of community involvement. When we have community buy-in, that means meaningful participation where we can have successful business for our whole community to thrive, Barboa said.

Despite discussions about possible changes to the fairgrounds, the New Mexico State Fair will remain unchanged this year.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.