Event director outlines phased plan to expand parking at Bannock County event complex

Scott Crowther, the county’s event director, urged the Bannock County commissioners to pursue a phased approach to relieve chronic parking shortages at the county event complex, particularly during Friday-night concerts and sporting events. Crowther said converting underused county land into a backlot would create roughly 40–60 additional stalls after walking-path reconfiguration and grading, and that the Health Trust has expressed interest in the concept.

“The expense quickly grew to the point where it just didn’t make sense to invest that in somebody else’s property,” Crowther said, describing a preferred option to develop county-owned backlot space rather than modifying adjacent private property. He said the plan would likely be phased: first reconfigure walking paths and fence access points, then bring the lot to gravel and later pave as funding allows.

Dan Campbell, facilities director, told commissioners he priced a worst-case, top-end design to protect the county from underbudgeting. “I came up with — it could be up to $3,000,000,” Campbell said, stressing that the estimate assumed full-build improvements including curbs, sidewalks, lighting and drainage; he recommended a more detailed scope to reduce the estimate. Public works director Kyle Burrowser outlined lower-cost, phased steps and material options, noting that reaching a gravel stage could require significant base material — “you’re looking at $144,000 just in 3/4-inch [material],” he said, as an example of a single line-item cost to get to temporary gravel surfacing.

Commissioners discussed trade-offs: gravel as a short-term fix would be faster and less costly upfront but raises maintenance, dust and liability concerns; full paving and additional approaches would be more durable but much more expensive. Commissioners also noted safety and accessibility issues for seniors and parents hauling chairs and wagons across the site.

Chair (speaker 1) directed Crowther, Campbell and Burrowser to meet in the coming week and return to the commission next Thursday with a clear, phased plan and an estimated price tag the county can take to the Health Trust and consider funding from PILT and existing event budgets.

The commission did not adopt a final design at the meeting; the next procedural step is the staff plan and cost estimate due at the following Thursday’s meeting.