After two years of preparation, the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission has finalized a plan and a funding proposal to improve city parks.
Commissioners are expected to appear before the El Dorado Works Board at 5:15 p.m. today in the Council Chamber of City Hall with a funding request of nearly $1 million in improvements, repairs and upgrades at several city parks, including Mattocks, Neel, Mellor, Lions Club park and municipal golf course and the recreational trail that encircles the golf course, the Union County Fairgrounds and the El Dorado School District soccer fields.
The effort began in the fall of 2018 when the EPPC toured several city parks to identify needs and areas of improvement.
Commissioners then turned to the public for ideas and suggestions, urging local residents to contact them and holding a public hearing to learn firsthand what residents wanted in the El Dorado parks system.
After extensive discussion, research, tweaks and revisions, commissioners met last month to shore up the final draft of the plan.
What will be presented to the EWB today is a request for $993,450 to cover costs for the:
• Installation of eight public restroom facilities in several city parks.
• Renovation of the Mattocks Park swimming pool and poolhouse and expansion of the basketball courts in Mattocks Park.
• Resurfacing the tennis courts in Mellor Park and striping the courts for pickleball.
• Fencing, leveling, hydro-seeding and irrigation for the field in Neel Park. The field is used heavily for soccer.
• Resurfacing of the 2.25-mile recreation trail on 19th Street.
• New picnic tables, BBQ grills and benches for several city parks.
Also included in the proposal are equipment purchases — a greens roller, sweeper, mini excavator, commercial herbicide sprayer and sod cutter that will be used at LCMGC and the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex.
Removal of old dugouts and fencing and the addition of a basketball goal are other projects that have been proposed for Neel Park.
The El Dorado Works Board administers the one-cent, city sales tax of the same name.
The tax is earmarked for economic development, municipal infrastructure and quality-of-life projects.
Fifteen percent of tax revenue is dedicated to community development projects, with 6% for parks and playgrounds — sports, recreational and outdoor venues or projects.
EWB members are also expected to hear a funding request from the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce for a contract for services to act as the city’s economic development arm.
Since 2017, the contract has been funded by the El Dorado Works tax in the amount of $45,000, which is paid in quarterly installments.
Among the economic development services that are provided by the Chamber, as spelled out in the contract, are:
• Providing planning, marketing and strategic advice and counsel to the city regarding job recruitment, development, retention and expansion.
• Developing secure tools for the purpose of economic development prospects, such as maps, charts, photos, brochures, reports and other matters, as are necessary and required to adequately promote new and expanding industry within the city.
• Developing a business retention and expansion program.
If the EWB approves the funding requests, they must then be presented to the El Dorado City Council for final approval.