Delaware State Fair Restricted Opening
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR RESTRICTED FAIR OPENING AMENDED AND RESTATED JUNE 10, 2020 July 23 - August 1, 2020 Harrington, Delaware Submitted By: R. Ronald Draper, President [email protected] 302-270-5414 Prepared By: William J. DiMondi, General Manager [email protected] 302-270-1711 Danny Aguilar, Assistant General Manager [email protected] 302-632- 4991 Original Submittal Date: May 13, 2020 Amended/Restated Date: June 10, 2020 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Background…………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….………….3 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..………….…….…….………...6 Proposal…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..........7 Identification of all Operations and Programming Areas…………………………………………..…………7 Protocols Applicable to All Operations and Programming Areas………………………………..……….7 General Health and Safety………………………………………………………………………………..……..………….7 Building Public Confidence in the Fair and Guest Communications………………………….………..14 COVID Signage Plan…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….17 Admission and Entry…………………………………………………………………………………………..….….………18 Outdoor Entertainment Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………..19 Agriculture - Livestock Shows………………………………………………………………………………….…………24 Commercial and Exhibit Buildings and Marketplace Tent………………………………………..………..30 Camping and Housing…………………………………………………………………………………………..…..……….34 Carnival Rides and Games………………………………………………………………………………….….….........38 Food and Beverage Sales and Dining Areas……………………………………………………………….……..39 Press Release Announcing Concert Cancellations (Exhibit “A”) ……………………….………………41 West Virginia’s Guidance for Fair and Carnival Re-Opening (Exhibit “B”)……………..…..……...46 Map of Fairgrounds and Delineation of Operational Areas (Exhibit “C”)……………......……...51 Grounds Entertainment Master Schedule (Exhibit “D”) ……………………….…………………….…..53 2020 Health and Safety Plan (Exhibit “E”) ……………………….…………………………………..…...…….56 COVID Signage Plan (Exhibit “F”) ………………………………………………………………………..……..…….59 2 THE DELAWARE STATE FAIR, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR RESTRICTED FAIR OPENING July 23 – August 1, 2020 Harrington, DE BACKGROUND The Delaware State Fair (the “Fair”) is the annual gathering of local residents and farm families organized 101 years ago to promote agriculture by showcasing a variety of: (1) livestock species and other animals; and (2) displays involving the arts as well as agricultural products both manufactured and from the farm- home. The Fair features a significant educational component led by groups such as 4-H and FFA who encourage young people to participate in agriculture, and offer both educational demonstrations and competitions. The primary purpose of training youth and to promote the welfare of farmers and a rural living lifestyle are active components of the Fair and have evolved to now include additional components such as commercial exhibits, direct commercial sales, food and beverage sales, a carnival, circus, strolling entertainment and concerts. Simply called or referred to as the “Fair” by most, it is truly unique, steeped deep in family tradition and represents a true celebration of community in the most inclusive of terms and engagement. It is managed by a 78-person volunteer Board of Directors who comes from all three Delaware counties. The annual fair takes place on a 257-acre tract of land located on US Route 13 south of the city of Harrington. On Monday April 27, 2020, the Fair made the public announcement of the cancellation of all concerts and shows in the M&T Bank Grandstand during this year’s Fair. As the event sponsor, this proactive move was taken after assessing and concluding that the Fair could not practically create and enforce “moderate” physical distancing protocols contemplated in Phase 2 of Governor Carney’s 3-phase Plan for Economic Reopening and Recovery. (See Exhibit “A”) With similar planning guidance and criteria in mind, the Fair has: 1. Cancelled the nightly parade whose route passes through the easterly side of the fairgrounds and by its nature creates large pockets of standing crowds which must be avoided; and 2. Is currently in discussions with the Fair’s circus provider (Circus Hollywood of Sarasota, FL) aimed at re-vamping the entire circus entertainment zone to eliminate the traditional large tent (“the big top”) with side walls that contact the ground around the tent’s entire perimeter to either: a. A completely open air performance environment with no tent material present; or b. Use a tent whose bottom 15’ (approx.) of sidewall will be removed during the Fair allowing more natural air ventilation contacting the backs of the entire audience seating area. The 3 circus provider has indicated that either option is possible. For public health reasons, the Fair prefers the completely open-air performance model. It is respectfully submitted and suggested by the officers, directors and staff of The Delaware State Fair, Inc. that this year’s Fair (July 23 – August 1, 2020) can reasonably and safely be permitted to operate conditioned upon and with the expectation that those responsible for planning the Fair will conduct it in a way that takes into account the need to practice enhanced physical distancing throughout the fairgrounds’ programming areas and to impose precautionary measures throughout the entirety of the operations. Currently according to the International Association of Fairs and Expos (IAFE), Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and National Independent Concessionaires Association (NICA) in addition to local press coverage in the states of Maryland, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma and New Jersey: 1. Many late summer and fall fairs (specialty themed and more traditional county and state fairs) similar to our Fair size in terms of attendance have not been cancelled and continue to plan for this year’s event. On June 9, 2020, The New Jersey State Fair at Meadowlands announced a re- scheduling to late July and their plans include a carnival. The Maryland State Fair along with 8 other Maryland based county or regional fairs are still scheduled for late summer or early fall 2020; and 2. Amusement parks and attractions and carnivals of varying size and capacities including some of the largest attractions in the world (Universal Studios, Disney, Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Lego Land, and Sea World), have either recently re-opened with operational restrictions and are currently in operation or are planning an imminent re-opening which include Maryland (Ocean City), West Virginia, Florida (Disney), Georgia (circus and carnivals) , South Carolina (Myrtle Beach, SC theme parks and water parks), Texas (fairs and carnivals) and Oklahoma. On Wednesday June 10, 2020 Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that effective Friday June 12, 2020; Maryland’s outdoor amusements are reopening including miniature golf, go-carts and amusement rides and supporting businesses such as food stands and games. Simply put, that announcement advises that Ocean City’s Trimpers Amusements located at First Street at the Boardwalk near the Ocean City Inlet Parking Lot (700 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City, MD) and Jolly Roger Amusement Park (2901 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD) have been authorized to reopen on Friday June 12, 2020. The most relevant “fair industry specific” and geographically nearby guidance that The Delaware State Fair could find was an announcement on June 5, 2020 (amended on June 10, 2020) by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice entitled: West Virginia Strong – The Comeback: Guidance for Fairs, Festivals, Amusement Parks and Rides. A copy of this fair and carnival re-opening guidance is attached hereto, marked as Exhibit “B” and incorporated herein by reference. West Virginia plans to allow fairs (w/carnivals) to resume operations effective July 1, 2020. On Tuesday June 9, 2020 Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear approved the opening plans for the annual Kentucky State Fair (August, 2020) which includes the same major elements as The Delaware State Fair 4 (grounds entertainment, livestock exhibition and shows, carnival rides, food and beverage vendors, games of chance and retail). As Delaware quickly and responsibly approaches the June 15th implementation date for Phase 2 of “Delaware’s Reopening”, the Fair acknowledges full and due consideration of operational and public health guidance provided by Governor Carney (as set forth at www.governor.delaware.gov) and has incorporated that guidance into this amended and restated opening plan. The Fair acknowledges that it is important to note that Phase 2 guidance will most certainly change as state guidelines, best practices, and guidance from public health professionals evolves towards Phase 3. The Fair shall periodically update this document with additional updated information as such updates become necessary. Unlike other venues for mass gatherings such as concerts, movie theatres and sports arenas or stadiums, the Fair is differentiable along the following lines: 1. The Fair can manage and reduce capacity at over 28 different physical locations or points on the grounds in order to allow for appropriate social distancing. 2. All of the Fair’s grounds entertainment for 2020 is outdoors. 3. Livestock related programming occurs under roof with no walls or other vertical impediments to free and open air exchange with the outside environment. 4. 95% of fairgrounds dining will occur outside. The remaining 5% will occur under roof but with little to no sidewalls or partitions