As the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex board works to complete the first phase of a major renovation of the complex, the group is also looking ahead to phase two, as well as other improvements and general operations for 2021.
Phase one of the two-phase master plan to renovate and upgrade the facility has largely been completed, save two components: new concessions and additional restroom facilities to serve the south end of the complex.
The first phase of the master plan called for the completion of two existing youth baseball and softball fields and construction of two additional youth fields on the south end of the complex; construction of two new youth soccer fields that are adjacent to the baseball and softball fields, all of which are just south of the Dumas Pavilion; the installation of turf, lighting and fencing on four older fields on the north end of the facility; and a new concession stand and restrooms for the south fields.
The soccer fields are nearing completion and could be ready for use by the summer and board members are exploring options for new concession stand and restrooms, citing costs and logistics, such as finding space to accommodate the new facilities.
They are considering smaller kiosks for concessions, rather than the concessions plaza that was included in initial plans for phase one.
The plaza would have included a concessions area, office space for the complex manager, an umpires/coaches’ lounge and public restrooms.
Following discussions about how such a facility would fit within available space on the south end of the complex, board members agreed to research kiosks.
On Jan. 8, Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board, said he had reached out to Murphy USA, which uses kiosks at some of its Murphy Express gas stations and convenience stores, for advice and information.
As a result of those conversations, MUSA offered to donate two of its old kiosks and Harrison said he forwarded the information to El Dorado city officials and Robert Edmonds, director of public works.
Harrison said the kiosks are internal and each has a restroom.
“It would be more for employees or an emergency, like if a kid got hurt,” he said, adding that a vending machine is attached to one of the structures.
The board discussed possibly expanding existing restrooms that are adjacent to the Dumas Pavilion and come with four stalls each in the men’s and women’s restrooms.
Harrison said city officials have also discussed using portable toilets or mobile restrooms, such as those that are used for special events.
Due to unanticipated engineering costs, the restrooms and concession stands are not included in the nearly $3 million budget for phase one, the bulk of which comes from a $2.7 million allotment from the one-cent El Dorado Works tax, a city sales tax that is dedicated to economic development, municipal infrastructure and quality-of-life projects.
The El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission kicked in $256,554 last summer to help complete the soccer fields. The commission draws its revenue from a 3% lodging tax.
An existing concession stand and restrooms serve the north fields and board members have cited the need for similar facilities to accommodate the expansion of the south end of the complex.
The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado — who manages the complex, per an annual contract for services with the city — is using a portable building as a temporary fix for concession stands for the south fields.
As board members reviewed an appropriations analysis that was prepared by Union County for the 2020 complex budget, Harrison noted that roughly $74,000 of the $226,904 budget was spent.
The city and county each contribute to the complex’s annual operating budget.
“We didn’t have much expenses,” Harrison said, referring to a nearly five-month closure of the facility due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020.
The facility was shut down between early March and late July last year.
However, the concession stands brought in $24,000 of revenue for the year.
The BGCE is also the concessionaire in a separate contract that calls for the club to remit 15% of concessions revenue to the complex.
Harrison, also a member of the Union County Quorum Court, told board members that a fellow quorum court member reported that the 2020 concession stand revenue is “the most that’s ever been brought in at the complex.”
“That’s good for having been closed for four and a half months,” board member Cynthia Bolding said.
“That’s because the concession stand is the biggest revenue driver for the complex,” said Harrison, who commended the BGCE and its concession stand manager.
Phase two and temporary fixes
The board briefly discussed phase two of the master plan, which calls for a new baseball field for older teens and adults, parking lot improvements and expansion and upgrades to the RV site.
Harrison said he is in contact with city officials, including City Attorney Henry Kinslow and Edmonds, about a request from PotlatchDeltic for the city to provide an easement to the area that is intended for the baseball field.
The board is also working with PotlatchDeltic, who has offered to donate land just east of the soccer fields to build the new baseball field.
Harrison has said an easement would be needed off Champagnolle Road near LifeTouch Hospice so that PotlatchDeltic can access other property it owns in the area.
As a short-term fix for the parking lot, city officials have discussed using milled asphalt from its 2020 - 2021 street improvement program to overlay the parking lot.
Several complaints have been lodged about the poor condition of the parking lot at the complex.
Bill Evans, treasurer of the Co-Ed Church Softball League, also suggested that the complex board consider asking local Boy Scouts to re-stripe the existing parking lot as an Eagle Scout project.
Board member Chris Nale questioned the idea, saying, “It won’t do any good with a temporary fix since the whole parking needs to be redone.”
“At least you can see where you’re supposed to park. When it gets crowded, people park everywhere and you can’t get a car through there,” board member Phillip Lansdell said.
Added Nale, “You also need to make the spaces wider. People do not drive small cars anymore.”
David Lee, executive director of the BGCE, said space behind the south baseball and softball fields could be used for additional parking.
“It needs to be road-based. People already park there anyway but when it gets rainy and muddy down in there during some of the bigger tournaments, the wrecker services are going to make a lot of money,” Lee said.