By Taylor Kearns - bio | email
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Parking and traffic for Gamecock football games and the State Fair can be a nightmare. In the off-season some changes to the fairgrounds have been made, but you'd have to dig to find the biggest improvement.
As the old fence around the area came down, passersby got a better look at a new and improved State Fairgrounds.
"We're thrilled," said General Manager Gary Goodman, who says they've been looking at this project for about 10 years.
Goodman says they wanted to beautify an otherwise industrial area and make tailgating after heavy rains a more pleasant experience.
"There wasn't much place to walk without getting your shoes messed up and getting muddy and that type of thing," Goodman said.
That's why one of the more interesting improvements to one of the most popular tailgating spots in the state is underground.
"In an area that's already prone to drainage problems, the last thing you want to do is increase the runoff," said Embree Griner with U.S. Group Design and Construction.
Griner says underneath the new paved driving lanes and 11 miles of curb and gutter is a network of pipes and drainage basins that store water, instead of pushing it off the property.
"It holds that water and lets it out very slowly so we don't encroach on the already existing drainage problems that were here," said Project Manager Jeff Kinard.
Kinard says it's the largest of its kind in the state, and the Clemson graduate admits it gives Carolina tailgating a bit of an edge.
"You don't see anything like this in Clemson, and it's not like they won't do it one day," said Kinard. "They may, but Gary's ahead of the curve here, let's put it that way. It's a great looking product."
The newly landscaped tailgating area has 4,100 spots, about 280 less than before. It's scheduled to be open for business in early September, just in time for football season.
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