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Terrebonne Parish officials create subcommittee after residents allege Recreation District 1 blocked access to parks and fields
Summary
Residents told the council Rec District 1 locked fields, closed parks early and blocked youth practices; staff said most properties are owned by the recreation district and pointed to scheduling and liability issues. Councilman Carl Harding’s motion to create a recreation subcommittee passed 7–1.
The Terrebonne Parish Public Services Committee on Oct. 13, 2025 moved to create a recreation subcommittee after residents described months‑long problems with Recreation District 1 that they say have kept children from practicing and using local parks.
Residents told the committee that scheduling and locked facilities were the main issues. “We first spoke with RecOne ... way back in April,” said Dawn Johnson of Gray, calling for a fair process so “our children [can] play in the community” and programs can succeed. Anthony Rainey said parks are being closed early and lights and fields are being locked, citing “bylaws in Section 211” and asking why the district would prevent teams from practicing. Clarence Francis, a former district manager, alleged the chairman locked gates and failed to repair lights or restroom access, saying he could “tell y’all a lot of things” about how the district operated.
Parish staff summarized meetings with Rec District 1 board members and the Quality of Life department and described the core constraints the parish faces. Miss Neil (staff) said Recreation District 1 owns most of the properties at issue and that the parish does not: “Recreation district 1 is the owner of the property that they service in the district. The parish doesn't own any of that property.” She said one leased football field behind Randolph Park had its lease terminated for budgetary reasons and that scheduling problems were largely caused by miscommunication and a lack of automatic calendar notifications.
Miss Neil recommended outreach to property owners, checking insurance and liability questions (including statutory immunity for recreational activities), and working with the district to improve scheduling and communication. She said her review found no clear policy violations but identified opportunities to reduce confusion and liability concerns.
Councilman Carl Harding moved to form a recreation subcommittee composed of the council chair and two appointed members, with the subcommittee charged to work with the parish attorney, administration and citizens to resolve scheduling and communication problems and to recommend revisions to the recreation manual. The motion was seconded and carried by roll call, 7 yeas, 1 nay.
The subcommittee will report back to the Public Services Committee and is expected to pursue coordination among Recreation District 1, the Quality of Life department and property owners, address scheduling and notification shortcomings, and examine insurance/liability concerns raised in staff’s report.
The committee also heard multiple public comments asking the council to use its authority to restore access for youth sports and to improve responsiveness from the district and administration. The subcommittee’s first meeting date and membership were not specified at the Oct. 13 session; council members asked staff to pursue the recommended follow‑up actions and return with additional detail.
