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Harlingen parks director outlines upgrades: Huntington Fields conversion, pond renovation, pickleball and pool timelines
Summary
Parks and Recreation Director Danny Diaz reported work across Harlingen parks including converting a baseball field to soccer at Huntington Fields, pond and pier repairs at a neighborhood park, new pocket-park construction, pickleball courts nearing completion and anticipated pool and splash-pad openings.
Danny Diaz, the city’s parks and recreation director, presented a multi-site update on maintenance and upgrades to Harlingen parks and facilities, outlining recent work and near-term timelines.
"We have 29 employees," Diaz said in his presentation, describing the Parks and Maintenance staffing structure and the scope of work his team maintains. He told commissioners the department maintains 28 parks, 39 sports fields, 26 miles of multi-use trails and 20 city buildings.
Diaz said staff recently converted a baseball field at Huntington Fields for soccer use; the Red Crown soccer team has already used the field for two games. At a neighborhood pond (described in the presentation), staff cleared overgrown trees, will install a fountain and renovate a pier, and plan shrubs and shaded seating. McKelvey Park work included clearing brush at a drainage outfall and removing encampments; the department plans a waterfall pump, landscaping and benches.
Smaller projects include construction of the Punito pocket park with a bioswale, walking trail and exercise equipment; Stewart Place pocket park with a proposed basketball court, playground and parking; and a new basketball court at Dixieland Park scheduled to begin next month. Diaz reported the pickleball courts at the community center are about 90% complete and said, "by two weeks, you should be playing out there." He also said staff completed work at two pools and hoped the Long Sale splash pad and pool would be operating "by next Friday." Diaz told the commission the department is working with the aquatic supervisor to broaden year-round pool use.
Commissioners and members of the public praised the Huntington Fields conversion and family attendance at recent events but raised capacity concerns at concessions: one attendee said people waited in lines up to 30 minutes and some items, including water, were unavailable. Commissioners asked about staffing levels; Diaz acknowledged the department is "behind schedule" in places and said staffing and budget discussions are pending as the city enters the budget process.
Diaz also noted an athletics crew now dedicated to field maintenance and thanked Public Works for assistance on walking-trail and basketball-court projects. Several commissioners encouraged using the city’s media team to publicize parks work and timelines.
