While the expansion of the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex is impressive, said District 1 Justice of the Peace Mike Dumas during a meeting of the county Quorum Court last month, the state of the parking lot detracts from the facility's overall appeal.
Each month, District 3 JP Greg Harrison provides an update to the Quorum Court on the Rec Complex. Harrison chairs the Complex Board of Directors.
Following a positive report on continuing softball and baseball tournaments at the facility and an update on concession kiosks that are part of a major renovation plan at the Complex, Dumas asked whether there was money in the facility's budget to improve the parking lot there.
"The reason I ask is that you're going to all this trouble and you're doing a great job of building an excellent facility out there, but you've got the sorriest drive and parking lot," Dumas said. "By the time I drive over that parking lot, I don't care what kind of ball park you've got out there. That's the sorriest parking lot."
The two-phase Complex expansion plan calls for more and better parking in the second phase, according to previous News-Times reporting.
Phase one of the plan encompassed the addition of two new baseball and softball fields and the completion of two existing baseball and softball fields, all on the south end of the complex, and the installation of new turf, lighting and fencing on four older fields on the north side of the facility.
Kiosks donated by Murphy USA are set to be installed soon and will serve the south fields, and following that, the only part of phase one that will remain to be completed will be the addition of more restrooms.
Phase two of the improvement plan calls fora baseball field for older teens and adults, a recreational trail that will encircle the complex and parking lot expansion and improvements.
The first phase of the master plan has been funded by a $2.7 million commitment from the El Dorado Works tax and an additional $271,800 from the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission.
Funding for phase two of the project hasn't been secured yet, as Complex Board members agreed earlier this year to hold off in order to assess how phase one projects will impact complex operations.
County Judge Mike Loftin said last month that he would prefer to wait to fix the Complex parking lot until after major construction projects are all complete.
"It's a whole lot more trouble to do part and come back and do the other part, because (when) we come back to do the second part, we'd have loaded trucks on the new part and tear it up all over again," he said. "I don't mind doing it, but I want to do it all at once."
Harrison noted that the Complex's annual operating budget is paid 50-50 by Union County and the City of El Dorado, up to $100,000 from each entity, or $200,000 total.
"Each time we get the (parking) lines painted, the lines deteriorate quicker and quicker. It's been the number one issue that's been brought to our attention," he said. "Hopefully there will be an opportunity to go back to the El Dorado Works Board and make a second (funding) request (for phase two)."
Dumas suggested that the Complex Board could seek funding from the El Dorado School District, whose softball and baseball fields are located on Complex grounds. Harrison noted that South Arkansas Community College, which has a rental agreement for use of a field at the Complex, has contributed to the facility.
"They had the dugouts painted ... and they actually have helped build the bullpen over there as well," Harrison said. "I can reach out to the school district and see if they'd be interested in helping out with that cause as well."
JPs also commented on the marked improvement, both in aesthetics and turnout, at the Rec Complex.
"It's head and shoulders different than what it was three years ago. It's something to be proud of," said District 7 JP Johnny Burson.