The new asphalt walkways and roads will be completed in time for the 2024 Dickinson County Fair, set for Aug. 29 through Sept. 2.

“It’s been our (fair board’s) hopes and dreams for many years but didn’t anticipate it would happen this soon,” Fair Board President John Degenaer Jr. said. “It’s finally coming true.”

A $100,000 grant awarded through Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or MDARD, allowed the board to move forward with the costly project in May, Degenaer said.

Total cost is projected to be $250,000. Once completed, the fair board will reach out to interested community members for donations.

PEOPLE COMING TO the Dickinson County Fair will find new asphalt roadways and walkways. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Midwest Asphalt & Gravel of Iron Mountain is expected to finish surface grading this week, with blacktop going down next week.

The paved path will run the entire layout of the midway, including the barn and grandstand, Degenaer said.

“The rides will be set up just off the blacktop in the grass area,” he said, adding

that eventually the grass will be replaced with crushed gravel to provide a solid, level surface to secure the carnival rides.

(Continued on page 3-A)All entrance roadways into grounds will also be upgraded.

The paved smooth surface provides a safe and easy access to fair-goers.

“It’s going to be so nice for those with wheelchairs and strollers — and safer for those using walkers and canes,” he said.

The board each year heard complaints from food vendors about the dust.

“You don’t realize how much dust a person kicks up when they walk,” Degenaer said. “This will eliminate that problem.”

The board’s original plans of 16-foot walkways had been doubled to accommodate better foot traffic flow, Degenaer said.

He credits Midwest for the input on the project.

The board next year will look at installing cable troughs. “Once we find out where we are going to put them, we are going to mark them so they are flush with the surface,” he said.

While most revenue for 2024 has been put into the asphalt, they have worked on renovating the ticket booths as well.

“We are trying to give them a modernized look, as well as keep them similar,” he said.

They have taken down deteriorating oak trees and removed dead branches to prevent them from falling on patrons.

Degenaer said they scheduled the project so it would be “brand new” at fair time.

“We are really excited — people are really going to enjoy it,” Degenaer said.