By SDCN Staff
Del Mar, CA–The 22nd District Agricultural Association has launched ‘Fairgrounds 2050,’ a broad outreach program aimed at helping to shape the future of the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the association’s other community-serving campuses.
The Fairgrounds 2050 effort will provide vital feedback to the 22nd DAA as it considers the development of a new master site plan.
As part of the county-wide outreach and input-gathering process, the 22nd DAA will solicit input from residents and leaders across San Diego County about the best and most sensible uses for its three properties: the 212-acre main fairgrounds campus, the 48-acre Surf and Turf Recreation Center, and the 64-acre Del Mar Horsepark. As the owner and operator of the oldest major events venue in the region, the 22nd DAA — a state institution that generates its revenue and does not ordinarily receive taxpayer support — serves the entire San Diego community.
The association produces the annual San Diego County Fair, hosts events and activities year-round, and contributes to the county’s emergency response when needed.
To guide the Fairgrounds 2050 process, the 22nd DAA Board of Directors last year approved a set of 16 guiding principles focused on community, purposeful planning, accessibility, economic opportunity, financial responsibility, and the association’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. One of the principles calls for considering land uses that support the 22nd DAA’s mission of providing education, entertainment, and agricultural experiences for the region’s diverse communities.
“Our board of volunteers has made clear that our master-site planning process should be community-led — not developer-led,” said Carlene Moore, CEO of the 22nd District Agricultural Association. “We also understand that we are more than an events center to San Diegans: We are San Diego County’s iconic community gathering place, a hub for economic opportunities, and stewards of our sensitive coastal ecosystem.”
Through the Fairgrounds 2050 initiative, the association reaffirms its long-term commitment to creating a vibrant, forward-thinking, and enjoyable space—one that will continue to serve the community during moments of celebration and stand as a reliable source of support in times of need for the next 25, 50, 100 years and beyond.
The 22nd DAA is working with Southwest Strategies, a local strategic communications firm, to assist with aspects of Fairgrounds 2050. The association’s planned next steps will include:
- Deploying a statistically significant quantitative survey of San Diego County residents to gauge their opinions about fairground events, activities, land use, and other matters.
- The formation of a pro bono Technical Advisory Coalition composed of leading technical experts who can help identify and assess technical considerations, such as environmental and engineering issues.
- Presentations to the region’s 18 city councils, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and prominent regional boards such as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Regional EDC, the San Diego Tourism Authority, and the San Diego Association of Governments to raise awareness and collect input from community leaders.
- Hosting five public workshops across all five county supervisor districts to create a countywide two-way dialogue with a diverse group of stakeholders.
The first city council presentation was in National City – where the San Diego County Fair began in 1880. The 22nd DAA plans to promote Fairgrounds 2050 efforts throughout 2025 to shape design criteria for an international design competition.
Interested residents can learn more about the process and provide their input by visiting delmarfairgrounds.com/2050.
