Williamson County adds West Arena to Expo Center
Williamson County broke ground on the Williamson County Expo Center West Arena during a ceremony on Monday, December 2 in Taylor.
The West Arena project will feature a new 175-foot by 450-foot facility, including a covered arena. According to the county, the West Arena will serve several functions for existing and future events, allowing some existing events to grow in size and scope. The new west arena will be larger than the current existing arena.
“East Williamson County is growing, the need for facilities is growing, and the opportunity to include a structure like this to our Expo Center is really important,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said. “It also serves a second purpose in that while parts of east Williamson County are transforming, there are parts of it that are still near and dear to our hearts and that is agriculture and livestock and a lot of things the Williamson County Expo Center supports.”
The $10.7 million project is funded through the $59 million voter-approved 2023 Wilco parks bond. It is the first project from that bond to break ground.
“The new west arena will be a wonderful addition to this already very popular complex,” said Russell Fishbeck, Wilco parks director. “It will help immensely to support the growing demand for facilities like these."
Alongside the new covered arena, the facility will include additional restrooms and showers to support the existing RV park, two 28-foot by 28-foot covered picnic pavilions, and an engineered gravel parking area expansion.
The new pavilions will allow groups at the RV park who want to gather for a meal or social activity to come together. The expanded parking will support the Expo Center, especially during wet conditions.
“It will give those folks in those industries, our farmers and our ranchers, a chance to meet, to learn, to have competition and get better at what they do,” Commissioner Boles said. “It’s a great way to encourage their kids, and the youth of the county to grow up appreciating those things too.”
Parkhill has been chosen as the architect and engineer. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors was chosen as the construction contractor. Project construction is anticipated to be completed in approximately 12 months.
“I want to thank the citizens of Williamson County for supporting projects like this,” Mr. Boles said. “I see this as us investing into ourselves, and our future and our history.”