Plans to improve and expand the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex board have hit a hiccup and the facility’s board of directors is exploring options to address the issue.
While reviewing preliminary plans for phase one of the two-part master plan, board members learned Friday that space will be tight in an area that has been designated for four new soccer fields, a new baseball field that will be designed to accommodate college-level play and additional parking.
The discussion carried over from a May 3 meeting when Jason Haley — of A.L. Franks Engineering, who is designing the project — told board members that engineers had to reduce the size of the soccer fields to fit into the available space in the southeast area of the complex.
On Friday, Haley said engineers had tweaked the design, explaining that the soccer fields would push up against the college baseball field and there would a 10-foot buffer “all the way around the (soccer) fields.”
“Ten feet would be the minimum that you would want but beyond that, there would not be a whole lot of room between the sidewalks and the seating area,” Haley said. “You have to think about how much space you’re going to need for seating and the kids coming in to do throw-ins. Fifteen feet?”
The slope of the land also poses a problem, he said.
“It’s a balancing act trying to get the grades right, but that limits the size we can put in there,” Haley said.
Pointing to the proposed baseball field, Robert Edmonds, director of public works, said, “Without a (land) survey, you really won’t know if there’s enough room to put it there.”
Complex board member Keith Smith suggested that the board hold off on the baseball field until the issue with the soccer fields is resolved.
A look into purchasing property
Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board and a member of the Union County Quorum Court, said board members initially received information that all of the new fields would fit into the available space.
Harrison also said that said the quorum court had authorized Union County Judge Mike Loftin to pursue any opportunities that could arise to acquire additional land from PotlatchDeltic, who owns the surrounding property.
PotlatchDeltic previously donated land to the complex — including a 2001 donation of the property on which the two newest fields sit, southwest of the Dumas Pavilion.
“That’s something we need to let this man know because he’s saying he has a concern,” Smith said, referring to Haley.
Edmonds said the baseball field could be moved farther southeast if the county is able to purchase a tract of land in the area.
He asked if Loftin had spoken to PotlatchDeltic about the matter.
Mike Dumas, also a quorum court member and former El Dorado mayor, said “Potlatch will sell, not donate…”
Edmonds said the board could consider purchasing a few acres instead of a tract.
Board member Stacy Scroggins agreed, saying, “If you have more room, you can turn those fields and the slope won’t be an issue.”
Added Haley, “You could also build bigger soccer fields.”
Scroggins inquired about which of the new facilities — the soccer fields or the college baseball field — would generate revenue for the complex more quickly.
“I don’t think we need to sacrifice the soccer fields because it’s something that’s growing,” said Dianne Hammond, co-chairman of the complex board and a member of the El Dorado City Council.
Board member Avo Vartenian made similar statements, saying that the board should proceed with building the soccer fields.
“We’ve got the money. Let’s go ahead and build them,” Vartenian said, referring to $2.6 million that has been approved from the El Dorado Works tax to cover phase one of the master plan.
In addition to the new soccer fields, phase one also entails the completion of two existing youth baseball and softball fields, also on the south end of the complex, and construction of two adjacent fields — all with restrooms, concession stands, breakrooms and Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility.
The concessions plaza will include a game room and coaches and umpires’ lounge.
Other improvements include new fencing, turf fields, LED lights, poles, protective netting and a new batting cage for the four fields on the north end of the complex; renovation of the concession stand and restrooms in that area; and improvements for security and entry controls for the facility.
The college baseball field is a part of phase two of the project.
“Why don’t you call Deltic and check into a price and see if they’re willing to sell the land and bring it back to the (city) council?” Hammond asked Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer.
Edmonds said he would also speak with PotlatchDeltic about the matter.
Board members expressed concern that the issue could cause a delay in the start of phase one, which they hoped to launch by the first of next month.
“I’d like to resolve that all that as quickly as we can before we go forward with that portion of it,” Scroggins said. “In the grand scheme of things, four or five weeks won’t matter five years from now.”
Edmonds agreed, saying, “The target was June 1, but that’s when we thought everything would fit with the footprint you have, but now we know it won’t fit.”
“You don’t want to be having this conversation two years from now,” he added.
Going out for bid
Board members voted to prepare bid packages for other components of the project, including fencing, lighting and turf improvements.
“If we go to bid now, we won’t have to wait until July to start construction,” Harrison said.
Haley said the entire project is expected to take approximately 150 days to complete. Board members have said they hope to finish the project by February 2020.
Board members agreed to schedule a specially called meeting June 14 to get an update on boundary issues for the soccer fields and bids.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or tlyons@ eldoradonews.com .