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The Ramsey County Fair - which has survived and even thrived despite the shortage of agriculture here in the Capitol county - will have a temporary new home this summer in the shadow of downtown St. Paul.
For years, the fairgrounds have been in Maplewood on three acres next to Aldrich Arena and the Goodrich Golf Course.
But to celebrate the opening of the new Wabasha Street Bridge - this year and this year only - the fair will unfold its tents on Harriet Island, just across the bridge from downtown, from July 15-19.
St. Paul and Ramsey County will help pay relocation expenses.
The fair was foundering in the early '90s and officials considered merging it with the nearby Washington County Fair, which still has a rural flavor. But public opinion was strong - and the fair was saved in 1994.
Tourney park-and-rides
With the Garrick Parking Ramp now closed as part of the Lawson Software project, parking will be tougher than usual for the annual high school tournaments, which begin next week at RiverCentre.
So city officials will operate two park-and-ride lots on the edges of downtown: one at Chestnut St. and Shepard Rd. on the west end, the other at the Allright parking lot at Kellogg...