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Parks board outlines completed projects, pushes for sports complex and 'poor farm' parkland
Summary
The Parks Advisory Board reviewed five years of projects—playground replacement, Harmon Field upgrades, new ballfields, pickleball courts and a planned splash pad—and asked council to consider a roughly $4.5 million sports complex and use of a county 'poor farm' site for trails, dog park and other amenities.
The Decatur Parks Advisory Board delivered a review of completed projects from the past five years and presented current priorities that include finishing a splash pad, developing the county 'poor farm' property for trails and a dog park, and planning a sports complex to meet fast-growing youth sports demand.
Parks Chair Carrie Vaughn told council the board has coordinated with Decatur's 2050 comprehensive plan and a 2006 parks master plan. Over the past five years, the board and staff completed playground replacement at Renshaw Park, added a walking trail, upgraded Harmon Field, rebuilt ballfields with new turf and facilities, added pickleball courts, installed fitness stations at Tornell Park (funded in part by Blue Cross Blue Shield), and created improved amenities at Jones Park. The board said completed projects were funded through a mix of grants, private contributions, EDC support and previously approved bond funds.
Current priorities include a splash pad adjacent to the new police station (staff said designated bond funds will be largely used to finish that project), improvements at Big Mama Park (water, electricity, a new pavilion in design), and a proposed park on the county 'poor farm' property. The County provided a long-term lease to the city for the 'poor farm' parcel; the parks board envisions bike trails, food-truck hookups and a dog park on the site and estimated a preliminary cost of roughly $500,000 for initial improvements.
The board also outlined demand for a regional sports complex. Using figures supplied by the Decatur Baseball Association, youth baseball participation grew from roughly 225 players in 2023 to about 500 in 2025. The board presented a conceptual double-quad (eight fields) model requiring about 80 acres; cost estimates in the presentation included roughly $1 million per quad (two quads shown at about $2,000,000), $500,000 for lighting and concessions, plus the farm acquisition/improvements, yielding an approximate total need of $4,500,000. Parks staff noted there is approximately $2,300,000 in parkland dedication funds accruing, which can be used to buy land but is not enough alone to cover a full complex.
Why it matters: Councilmembers said parks are central to quality of life and economic growth; with rapid population increases and heavy youth-sports usage, the Parks Board argued for including a sports-complex land acquisition and development plan in future capital planning or bond considerations.
Next steps: The Parks Board requested council keep the sports-complex need in mind during bond planning. Board members said they will continue fundraising, seek grants and present detailed project scopes and cost breakdowns for council consideration.
