The news has definitely flown under the radar, but it was recently announced that one of the most unique Standardbred raceways on the continent will be reduced to rubble at some point this year.
Last August, Trot Insider helped shed light on the fact that the property in which the Phoenix Trotting Park sits upon was up for sale, and that the grandstand and its accompanying facilities could be reduced to ashes.
According to a piece by azcentral.com, the owners of the Phoenix Trotting Park have since made the proper steps in order to have the grandstand demolished by the end of 2017.
The Phoenix Trotting Park was a dream of three horsemen from the U.S. east coast – John Dunnigan of Buffalo Raceway, Norman S. Woolworth and Hall of Fame horseman Delvin Miller. The track opened to rave reviews in 1965 with its massive futuristic-looking grandstand, but closed the next year and has not been operational since 1966.
Removal of asbestos from the four-story facility commenced this spring. It is expected that demolition of the 100,000-square-foot building will be completed by December. Information in regard to the upcoming demolition comes from permits, via the Maricopa County Air Quality Department. It has been also been confirmed that the grandstand, horseperson’s building, and maintenance building are all scheduled to be demolished.
The azcentral.com piece states that the grandstand, which has become an iconic area landmark over the past 50 years, has been essentially vacant for five decades. The defunct track and its grandstand are situated along two of the greater Phoenix-area's busiest highways – in Goodyear, technically. The intersection where the 194-acre Phoenix Trotting Park resides has been eyed as a location for potential commercial and industrial growth.
The Phoenix Trotting Park has made the news in the past few weeks due to trespassers that have descended on the location in 2017.
"This is not a structurally sound building," Goodyear Police representative Lisa Kutis has been quoted as saying. "There's lots of issues with the building. It is private property, and we do not want anyone on that property."
Kutis said that she believes that the trespassing incidents, which have been plentiful, have come due to people’s curiosity. "I think for some reason, there's been attention drawn to this location,” said Kutis, “so people are curious, but it's just not worth the risk."
She went on to say that a picture is not worth the possibility of becoming injured, or even dying. If a person is caught trespassing, that person could face charges, as the property is private.
“It's a criminal trespass charge if caught on that property,” said Kutis, “which is a Class 2 misdemeanor and subject to fines and even jail time, depending on the courts."
(With files from azcentral.com and FOX 10 Phoenix)