Cloverdale BIA wants input from residents about future of Fairgrounds

Cloverdale BIA wants input from residents about future of Fairgrounds

Published 10:30 pm Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Cloverdale BIA has had more than 1,000 responses so far for their survey about the future of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

The BIA launched the survey several weeks ago, in conjunction with the Cloverdale Community Association (CCA), asking what people want the Cloverdale Fairgrounds to look like in the future.

Paul Orazietti, executive director of the Cloverdale BIA and a board member for the CCA, said they want to hear from the community. That way they can pass on the results to the city as the city plans to talk with all stakeholders and user groups that have an interest in the future of the Fairgrounds.

Orazietti wants to keep the survey open so the “maximum number” of people can have their voices heard.

He said it’s vital people speak up. Otherwise, he says, outside interests could dictate what goes on the Fairgrounds and it may not be something that offers any benefit to residents of Cloverdale or East Surrey.

“The idea is really to offer an avenue for people to express their wishes,” he said. “What do people want? If we get something on the Fairgrounds that we don’t want and people haven’t had their say, then I think we’ve lost out as a community.”

Orazietti said the city’s Surrey Development Corporation will be in charge of creating a vision for the Fairgrounds. He noted they’ll interview and talk to a lot of people. They’ll meet with the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, the BIA, the CCA, the rodeo association, and other community groups.

“The best part of the survey so far, and it’s something I’m very proud of, is that people are passionate about this town,” he added. “People that live here love their community. So this might take awhile, but we need to do it right. We need to do it well. We need stakeholders to be heard.”

Orazietti acknowledged the biggest hurdle in getting people to respond is conveying to them the importance of being heard at such a vital stage of the process. The task is compounded because there’s no construction on the ‘Grounds—nothing tangible to point to get people motivated.

“Cloverdale is changing, whether people are aware of it or not,” he added. “So, we need input from residents in order to help shape that change.”

Links to the survey can be found on the Cloverdale BIA’s website, cloverdalebia.com.