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Parish plans recreation fields
Published Friday, November 7, 2008
VIDALIA — Even though no dirt has been turned over for the new recreation complex in Concordia Parish, there are plans in the works for a multi-field facility.
Concordia Parish Recreation District No. 2 President Marc Archer said before construction and further planning can move forward, the district has to get back estimates on what the basic infrastructure costs will be.
“As soon as we get that, we are going to go forward and see what we can do,” Archer said.
But even before the cost estimates come in, the district does have some definite plans on paper.
“The only thing that we know for sure is a four-field complex for softball and a four-field complex for baseball,” Recreation Director Mike Bowlin said.
The complex will be built on a 50-acre spread of land near Walmart.
The recreation district owns 20 of those acres, and the City of Vidalia owns the other 30 and is leasing them to the district for 99 years.
A soccer field is likely in the plans as well.
“All you need for soccer fields is flat ground, and we have got plenty of that over there,” Bowlin said.
A walking track — which may take the form of a nature trail — will also likely be a part of the project.
“If nothing else, you can just encompass a walking track around the entire area,” Bowlin said.
But what else is to be added to the complex is ultimately up to the public — and when the district gets their cost estimates, they will have public meetings.
“We are going to have some public hearings, but we want to have all of our information in hand first,” Archer said.
“You don’t want to have a public hearing until you have something to tell the public.”
The idea for a new complex has been tossed around for approximately 10 years, Bowlin said.
“We were looking for land, and now we have got that,” he said.
The land the complex will be built on was sold at a price of $17,000 an acre earlier this year.
The City of Vidalia paid for the purchase with funds generated by a riverfront lease.
The recreation district is funded by a 3.89 mill tax.
Comments
Posted by ntzlvr (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...good for you Vidalia. Natchez can't even agree on a site to put a recreation complex, much less have a plan on paper.
Posted by justmems (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe our supervisors and mayor need to contact Hyram Copeland and the supervisors over there in Vidalia to get a lesson on how to get this stuff done.
Posted by squeetlebomb (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The city of Vidalia paid for it with funds from a riverfront lease. Hear that Natchez.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just hate that Natchez officials can't get it together. Yall need something like this, only bigger. If the kids were Natchez aldermen and super's top priority, it would show.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage, that's exactly whats wrong with Natchez leaders. THEIR KIDS GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH THEIR OWN PRIVATE FACILITIES.They have their own private pools in their backyards, etc. Why care about the public kids. They cost too much money.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know what the fees to play summer sports are now but when my kids were playing it was expensive. These sound like good plans. BUT, if they don't charge enough to play and attend, then the tax payer better be ready to open up his wallet and fork over the money to maintain this 50 acre amusement park. Be carefull what you ask for.
Posted by blackdog (anonymous) on November 7, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Public means tare it up to some. Write gang stuff on. You can not have things for public in a crime area.
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