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What is this?
Byrne eyes Inglewood for recreation
Published Saturday, October 11, 2008
NATCHEZ — Recreation is on the forefront of city and county official’s minds, and an opportunity has presented itself that may or not be seized.
For 20 years former mayor Tony Byrne has eyed the Inglewood property on John R. Junkin Drive that backs up to Duncan Park as an avenue for recreation expansion.
“I’ve pitched it to every mayor that has followed me in office and every recreation director,” Byrne said.
And now it’s for sale.
The 20-some acres of land could be used to expand Duncan Park, Byrne said.
“I would hate to see it developed when it should belong to Duncan Park,” Byrne said.
He said nine more holes of golf could be added to Duncan Park eventually, when enough money builds back up after the initial purchase.
In the meantime, it could be used as walking trails.
Harrington Realty’s Caroline Harrington said the property was listed on Oct. 3 and the asking price is $989,000.
“It’s an excellent price,” she said. “And certainly a great thing for the city to acquire since it’s right there next to the golf course. It’s loaded with beautiful oak trees.”
Mayor Jake Middleton, who is pushing for more recreation and advocating a joint city and county venture, had only recently learned of the sale of the property.
“I think that’s something we would give consideration,” he said.
But it would also be something to be discussed with county officials, and there are several questions to be asked, Middleton said.
“Do we want to expand Duncan Park?” he said.
His ideas right now center on the possible purchase of the Belwood property by the port and developing it into a multi-field complex for baseball and soccer.
And Adams County Board of Supervisors President Henry Watts has an idea that pares Middleton’s down quite a bit.
“I think right now, Supervisor Watts and I — our ideas on what we need are a little apart,” Middleton said. “Neither of us are right or wrong.”
But as for right now, Middleton said he can’t say either way what he’d like to do about Inglewood.
“I don’t know whether or not that would be a good investment,” he said.
Alderman Dan Dillard, who serves as recreation chair for the board, said he would look into it more, but right now the price is a touch high.
“It sounds like it would be something to consider, but at that price it seems that someone has a higher value on it than I do,” he said. “That’s just the raw cost of the land and then put that much more in to develop it.
“That sounds a little high to me for 20 acres.”
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 3:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
9 more holes of golf for the pansies to play in??? And I thought 18 was 18 too many.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 11, 2008 at 4:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see, the property is worth $50,000 per acre, plus or minus?? You know that is a lot of money to pay for the dirt. Dirt is about all you will have after clearing the land for development.
Hell, let's sell the golf course property at the same rate per acre or higher and we will generate $5,000,000 or more for the recreation complex. Of course, we have to have some agreement/plan for a recreation complex, huh!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 4:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree with you OGD...
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
More golf??????? How about using the land for our CHILDREN"S recreation? I am shocked that more golf would even be considered! We need soccer fields, skate parks, tracks, more volleyball, etc. that benefit our kids...not adults.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im with ntz143 . The price seems a little high to me . Who's gonna loan the money for this sale? In the early 1930's the garden club went to bank after bank to borrow money to buy and restore House on Ellicott Hill, to no avail . It took going to the bank whose president happen to be married to one of the ladies of the club to be able to get the financing . I guess the banker didn't want to go home and listen to it if he hadn't okayed the loan .
Posted by bayougranny (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the Belwood area is a terrible place to put a rec park. What are they thinking? Even after they spend all the money on a levee you still have seepage water getting under the tennis courts, basketball courts and the middle of ball fields. More upkeep money to repair. Put the golf course back out there and use Duncan Park for ball, tennis, walking, skate boarding. Maybe an indoor Olympic pool. They need to jump on additional acreage but not for golf.
Posted by colescreek (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats a great idea, bayougranny! Belwood is a stupid place for the rec complex, but a great place for the golf course. Think about all the teens driving themselves to practice or games. Keep them close. A lot fewer people would have to drive to the golf course all the way out to Belwood. And the additional 20 acres would be good for the rec center too.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The kids need a place! The golfers have a place. But that being said, will the place built for the kids be taken care of, or torn up by vandals?
Posted by amctxs (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, let me get this straight. The county bought a golf course (with a swimming pool) a few years back and allowed the property to go to heck in a handbasket (drive down to Bellwood and take a look). Now, the county cannot give the property away or attract any business to that piece of property without spending a million or so dollars on a levee to protect the property.
The city (which has a golf course) is looking at spending somewhere in the neighborhood of a million dollars on property and development of a recreational area (with a swimming pool).
Am I the only one who sees the irony in this situation?
Let the county deed some interest in the Bellwood property to the city in return for the million for the levee. Let the city deed some interest in Duncan Park to the county. Together the city and county now have PLENTY of property for recreation (imagine football, tennis, softball, soccer, and an aquatic center at Bellwood). The newly formed city/county operation at Duncan Park can remodel the exsisting golf course to take it the old ball fields, tennis courts and pool area.
Both the city and the county have employees that can write grants for recreational development money. There are state and federal grants available as long as the city/county has the land. Land is not a problem in the Natchez situation.
Now, I realize there is no way in HELL that this would actually happen since it requires the city and county to work together and run a project together (and god forbid we introduce the school district into the picture). But, in the end (as usual in Natchez), who suffers......the kids.
The citizens of Natchez and Adams County should force all their elected officals to get on a bus (one bus, ride together)and drive to Texas for a Saturday afternoon of youth activities. Visit Celina (population 8,000) with their new soccer fields, 4 baseball/softball fields, and fishing pond. Built with grant money. This scene is repeated throughout the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex (Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Keller, Denton, Little Elm, I can go on and on). These fields are used Monday through Sunday 365. How did these sports complexes get built? With cooperation between city, county, school, and even state officials.
I moved away from Natchez 20 years ago, but its like I never left. Nothing has changed. Why do think business and industry will not relocate or build in Natchez or Adams county? Business/Industry wants quality schools for their children's employee's, they want recreation opportunity, they want opportunties and options to participate in the community. In Natchez/Adams County there is a "our way or the highway" mentality. Always has been, still is. And officials wonder why they can only attract second class industry (Rentech compared to Nissian).
I'm done....
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 11, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope one of the downtown clowns or one the dupervisors/bloopervisors reads this comment by amctxs.
JMO, I think our local leaders should get their act together.
Posted by thedude (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When will the day come when our towns in the Miss-Lou can step up and be creative by their selves and not need some assistance in making a decision on how to run their buisness. True leadership is making a decision, standing by your decision and seeing it through to the end whether its right or wrong. There is no one on earth who is going to make everyone happy. The fact of the matter is that Natchez don't need more holes at Duncan Park, if anything is done to Duncan Park it should be to repair the old 9 holes and give them some character to resemble the new 9 holes. There is plenty of room at Duncan park right now to build more ballfields. It may taking some reshaping of the golf course on the old 9 but it can be done. There are engineers and equipment that can satisfy alot of this work instead of spending a million bucks on 20 acres. Sure it would be nice to have Inglewood but I dont believe that it should be top priority. I used to play golf at Duncan Park alot but over the last few years I haven't due to how poor the greens were each time I played. I go now only to take my little girl to play in the play ground area, which could use a little attention, and to watch my wife play tennis. All these area could be so beautiful and so worth going to if everyone would come together and show that they care.
I believe that our leaders make short term repairs instead of making full repairs to eliminate these issues for our children to take care of. Our leaders need to plan their buisness to the fullest, weight every option, find the best person to do the job.
"Good work aint cheap and Cheap work aint good"
Posted by straightshooter1 (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
amctx and thedude, I agree one hundred and ten percent. Time for the city, county and school officials to get off their duffs and get something done for the children of this area...and I don't mean after having a years worth of darn meetings! Just do it!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good idea! Let Tony Byrne buy it and donate it to the City ! To expensive with all the City of Natchez needs. No more Taxes!
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When a new idea arises in Natchez,I always wonder who gets their cut first and how much. How many hands are in the till and how will it benefit the ones and their relatives,friends,buddies,girlfreinds and all the others that benefit.99 dollars a year lease on the old depot i think was one of the many. A large ripoff of taxpayers money for land that was full of canyons and passed around till everybody got fat. It,s the same,just like always..the few the proud,the robbers.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am definitely in on expanding Duncan Park for the children. If anyone knows please tell me, It seems to be that it would cost more to renovate Bellwood than Inglewood. I might be wrong but Bellwood is in terrible shape. Wouldn't Having Inglewood give the complex a certain charm? Not to mention Keeping children and additional traffic off that port road. Oh yeah and doesn't everyone love to drive down Lower Woodville Rd, or Providence with speeding log trucks zooming by, just doesn't seem practical to put children s recreation in what seems to be such an industrial area right by the river.
Posted by eagleX2 (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Golf only serves a few of our citizens! We need an indoor/outdoor pool facility, playgrounds, wilderness trails, and ballparks way more than an addition to what we already have. If we buy the property, don't cut all the trees down! They are beautiful and will not be able to be replaced in our lifetime. Shade is good during those summer ball games. The asking price seems high for this period in our economic situation. More golf would be throwing away money. It will not pay for itself and be another drain for tax money to flow down.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And a lot more grass to cut
Posted by sunkitty (anonymous) on October 13, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh brother - no more golf courses. Natchez needs a variety of recreational activities for children. Perhaps it would help alleviate some of the obesity problems. Children, these days, need to get off their fat butts and get moving!
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 13, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatca gonna do when the river floods the property?
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 13, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who gets which piece of the pie first? Glad they spent 3 or 4 million on studys on NRMC then sell it..Great move again.
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