Belle-Clair Fairgrounds

Camp Koerner — named after Gustave Koerner, a politician and close friend of Abraham Lincoln — was one of 10 different emergency volunteer camps in Illinois, and was picked due to its proximity to a railroad center.

The board that manages St. Clair County-owned buildings has purchased a total of four pieces of property near the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds so far this year.

County officials took yet another step in the process of transferring the 22.5 acre property from private to public control.

In total, the federal government allotted St. Clair County more than $50 million to help it respond to and recover from the public health emergency.

Starting in 2023, St. Clair County officials hope to bring back the county fair. The county board voted Monday to apply for state funding.

The Belleville City Council and St. Clair County Board both voted Thursday night to purchase the property for $2.35 million.

Included in the listing are the main hall building, the open-air storage shed, the former Quality Rental building, the dirt racetrack, and multiple outbuildings.

The Belle-Clair Fairgrounds started offering booster shots on Tuesday. It will operate three days a week for the next three weeks.

“We strongly encourage appointments. As they become available, we’ll have those posted on our website,” the county’s health department director said.