WBRZ - Baton Rouge

The state Office of Community Development has approved Ascension Parish's application to use
almost $1.1 million in federal hurricane recovery money to buy the privately owned Louisiana Fairgrounds site in Donaldsonville.

The OCD Disaster Recovery Unit granted approval, pending environmental clearance and other steps.

A parish appraisal of the 13-acre recreational site put the market value at $988,000.

Parish President Tommy Martinez said in an interview last month that a second, separate appraisal put the value of the facility at $1.1 million.

He said the parish and fairgrounds owner were reviewing a purchase agreement for $1 million that could be spread over several years until hurricane recovery money arrived.