They want to pave a parking lot to put up paradise.

The Earl Warren Showgrounds plans an ambitious and grand redesign of the state-owned facility next to Highway 101 in Santa Barbara. The staff has released a proposed master plan that shows a reimagining of the site as a vibrant community campus and regional hub.

The plan calls for a new 6,000-seat arena, seven acres of park and green space, five acres of multi-use sports and recreation fields, a new 60,000-square-foot events center with three separate rooms, and 100,000 square feet of flexible-use courts for pickleball and other activities.

Another 8.3 acres would be used for various events that are flexible, including music festivals, concerts, gatherings, community events, cultural ceremonies, equestrian shows, and sporting tournaments and games.

Eventually, by 2050, the showgrounds would be 72% landscaped or green space.

The plan also includes the rebuilding and reduction of the horse barns from 12 to three, the preservation of equestrian traditions with new horse arenas, and equine evacuation facilities. Rodeos and horse shows would continue, but the space would be flexible so that other groups could use it year-round when horse activities aren’t happening.

“We want to be the events center that Santa Barbara deserves,” said Ben Sprague, general manager of the Earl Warren Showgrounds. “The plan unlocks a lot of that potential, while also being attainable, and having something for everybody.”

The 34-acre master plan, prepared in partnership with consultant MKThink, seeks to transform a popular but underutilized site into a regional destination. The plan builds heavily on California’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which states that Santa Barbara needs to zone land to build 8,000 units by 2031.

Earl Warren officials said that with new housing headed to Santa Barbara, through the cities and county, Earl Warren should serve the needs of a growing community. Even though the plan was developed independently, it aims to be compatible with ongoing city and county initiatives.

The new facility would continue to serve as an emergency equine evacuation area as well as a destination and staging house for public safety crews. Events such as the circus, fair, flea market, and the dozens of weekend shows put on by nonprofit and other organizations would continue.

The new space would allow for different user groups to share the facility.

“We want to be the Swiss Army knife instead of a single-use facility,” Sprague said.

The board of directors still must approve the plan.

The plan does not include housing, but Earl Warren officials believe the changes will help provide the recreation and entertainment needs to a growing community.

“What I am most excited about is that the facility, geographically, truly is a hub,” said Tory Milazzo, board president of the Earl Warren Showgrounds. “When we think about the growth that is going to occur on the South Coast, we are saying to the community that we are here, we are going to be a hub.”

Milazzo said anti-growth supporters were successful for years, but the state mandates are real and development is inevitable.

“Change is not easy,” Milazzo said. “It is hard. Especially here, we all cherish and want to maintain the culture and fabric of our community, but we all need to be realistic about the growth that is coming.”

The plan would be phased out over the next 20 years, but Milazzo said significant progress could be made in the first stage for $3 million to $5 million in the next few years. The plan is to seek local, state and private funding to pay for the project. Earl Warren would remain open throughout the redevelopment.

“Everybody realizes that these facilities are in need of reinvestment,” Milazzo said. “The goal is to reflect the needs of the community.”

Mike Medel, a board member for the Earl Warren Showgrounds, said he is optimistic.

“I think the concepts of the plan have the potential to create positive impact on the entire Santa Barbara community and provide a community resource that we’ve never seen before in this city,” Medel said.