City agrees to split cost of Threadgill park lighting; infield turf funding, grants to be pursued

Destin City Council on Aug. 18 approved a plan to partner with Destin Little League to upgrade park lighting and install artificial turf in two infields at Threadgill Park, with the city and the league each paying roughly half of the project cost and staff pursuing competitive grants and committee review. The council also asked staff to explore related drainage, permitting and procurement steps and to present the project to the parks advisory committee.

The request came from Matthew Dolman, treasurer of the Destin Little League board, who outlined donations of lighting fixtures and private fundraising to cover part of the work. “They have agreed to donate basically, the fixtures…all we would have to do is pay for the installation,” Dolman told the council, and then described a league commitment of private funds toward the installations and turf.

The council’s action: approve a cost‑share for the lighting installation (roughly $22,000 installation cost for donated fixtures) and to split the estimated upgrade cost for turf infields (Dolman provided a year‑old estimate in the packet of about $230,000 for two infields) with the league. City staff and councilmembers repeatedly noted that stormwater and site preparation will affect total cost and schedule and asked staff to analyze those items before construction begins. Councilmembers also directed staff to apply for the state ‘‘FIRDAP’’ reimbursement grant program and to bring the project to the Parks & Recreation/CRA advisory committee for review and recommendations.

Councilwoman Tori Trammell, a member of the council’s budget committee, said the timing was tight for the FIRDAP grant but urged staff to pursue it: “The caveat, September 30 is the deadline,” she said, urging that applications and reimbursement rules be checked. City staff confirmed Threadgill lighting was included in the capital plan for 2027 and that renewal and replacement funds exist; staff advised that the artificial turf would be an upgrade cost not eligible for simple replacement funds unless paired with other funding.

City staff and council members raised procurement and maintenance questions: council members asked whether the donated fixtures match other municipal field lights (Musco was cited as the vendor used on other parks) and pressed for competitive quotes for turf installation. City staff said the city could use cooperative purchasing or an RFP for installation and that if the council approves matching funds staff would return with contract and warranty details.

Council members emphasized the need to resolve drainage/stormwater work before turf installation to avoid repaving or reworking a new surface. Staff said stormwater issues will be part of due diligence and that any agreement would be drafted to capture responsibilities and maintenance obligations. The council approved the motion to move the project forward and to send it to the parks/advisory committee; at the same meeting councilmember Schmidt recused himself from voting on the final motion because of an unpaid board role with a related nonprofit.

What happens next: staff will return with more detailed cost and procurement information, a schedule for needed stormwater work and a recommended contract/maintenance approach. They will also pursue the FIRDAP reimbursement application and inform the parks committee about potential grant scoring points and matching requirements. If the grant is successful, it would be a reimbursement; the city would still need capital outlay up front.