VIDALIA &8212; Adequate recreation in Vidalia is about to become more than just softball and baseball fields if Mayor Hyram Copeland gets his way.

The city of Vidalia is looking into an approximately 65-acre tract of land to purchase for the recreation department to develop and use, Copeland said. The possibility of the recreation department leasing the land exists, but has not been finalized.

&8220;We have reached a point where we need to expand our recreational activities and I&8217;ve stressed this,&8221; Copeland said.

Copeland said the city is working with the property landowner and within 60 to 90 days could finalize the deal.

&8220;The recreation board agreed with the town, and they will develop it with existing funds,&8221; Copeland said.

Recreation District No. 3 President Don Joseph said the town&8217;s &8220;adequate facilities&8221; could become exceptional.

&8220;In a city our size, I would put ours up against any in the state,&8221; he said. &8220;As far as them being adequate, I&8217;m proud of them, we came from nothing.&8221;

The current recreational facilities include three softball parks, four baseball parks and a recreation center serving different purposes, all crowded into a 12-acre plot, Joseph said. Three additional fields are also available on school property.

The recreation funding comes from the four-mill tax in place for years and renewed Saturday.

&8220;If the tax passes, good and fine, if it does,&8221; Joseph said last week. &8220;If it doesn&8217;t we will back up and look at the situation very strongly.&8221;

Plans for the 65-acre tract have not been discussed in depth, Joseph said, and would possibly require assistance in a design if the deal goes through, he said.

The department&8217;s ending net assets Dec. 31, 2004, for district No. 3 were $1,442,423 and $1,283,846 on Dec. 31, 2003, according to the operations financial report. The district&8217;s cash balance in 2004, was $653,482 and $506,597 in 2003.Revenues for the district in 2004 were $269,679 and $267,076 in 2003, both in the general funds.