Fair officials say they're prepared with parking plans for rainy days

Officials hope any rain during fair week will drain away.
CANFIELD -- Knee-deep mud and cars buried to their bumpers aren't likely to hamper the Canfield Fair, even if Mother Nature drops as much rain on the event as she has the past few weeks.
"Most fields at the fair are drained -- we put drain tile in," said Chuck L. Booth, the fair director who oversees parking.
"We're constantly upgrading, adding drains and gravel and improving lots." Low spots are routinely graded to promote runoff, he continued, and key parking personnel are very familiar with which areas dry quickest and which should be avoided.
However, he said: "Whenever you have grass fields for parking, there's always a potential for problems."
Too much rain
Although he is not anticipating a catastrophe, parking could be problematic if it rains so much that there is nowhere for the water to drain. It's a situation some areas, including Canfield, experienced earlier this month when streets flooded and storm sewers overflowed after days of steady rain interspersed with sporadic downpours.
If it appears that parking will be a problem because of rain, Booth said, parking alternatives will be considered. "We always have a plan in case something happens," he said.
Plans for parking may be discussed at the next board meeting Aug. 12, said Bev Fisher, fair manager.
In Trumbull County
Trumbull County fairgoers were mired in mud much of last week, forcing officials to start a shuttle service beginning Friday. Fairgoers using the shuttle were able to avoid parking in muddy fields at the fairgrounds in favor of paved lots at the Trumbull County Career & amp; Technical Center.
Many of those unlucky enough to get stuck in the mud were at least able to avoid calling a tow truck; fair maintenance crews used their equipment to pull vehicles out.
Rain also caused the cancellation of some events at the fair.