Statement from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez on the relocation of The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition

(MIAMI, February 18, 2015) – “My Administration and I have determined that Tropical Park is unsuitable for the relocation of The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition and is not under consideration as a potential relocation site. On November 4, 2014, Miami-Dade County voters supported a County charter amendment by a margin of 65 percent to allow Florida International University (FIU) to expand onto up to 64 acres of land in Tamiami Park, the current home of The Fair. The amendment approved by the County electorate also provides that FIU's expansion could only occur after the relocation of The Fair and that no County funds could be used for FIU's expansion or The Fair's relocation. Tropical Park, which is located at 7900 S.W. 40 Street in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, is a heavily trafficked and highly used regional park that hosts multiple events, activities, sports leagues, and programs throughout the year which continue to be community priorities, and, by necessity, would preclude activities on the scale of The Fair being staged there. My Administration continues to actively evaluate sites that could accommodate the needs of The Fair, so that it can continue to operate for many years to come at a new home.”