The Terrebonne Parish Recreation District Subcommittee voted Monday to compile its findings and forward a report to the Terrebonne Parish Council Public Service Committee and legal staff after residents and committee members raised concerns about park access, maintenance and unclear ownership of leased fields.

Chair Carl Harding said the subcommittee will prepare a written summary for the Public Service Committee after discussing complaints from the “Great Community” and other residents about locked practice fields and disconnected utilities. Harding told the panel that the parish may not have authority over fields leased from third parties: “the parish has first right of refusal to all parks,” he said, while noting a specific leased practice field had power cut off and goalposts removed.

Why it matters: residents described instances where tennis-court lights were not on during business hours and baseball fields were locked when community members expected access. Former subcommittee chair John Amity said the Recreation Policy Manual needs teeth: “we pass an ordinance, which is law, but there’s no enforcement mechanism,” he said, urging the group to consider a progressive fine schedule and stronger training and accounting practices so districts comply with policy.

What was raised: Subcommittee member Pleasure reported on a site visit that found Shreverent tennis-court lights off in the afternoon and a locked baseball field; he described Randolph Park as otherwise well maintained and suggested opening dugouts to allow pickup games. Pleasure said rec districts can run summer camps with parish reimbursement and cited another district’s program costing less than $45,000 as a model. Resident Wilford Joseph urged officials to favor the “spirit of the law” and called for more lighting and insurance to keep children safe and in parks: “When adults fight, the children get beat up,” he said.

Committee response and next steps: Members agreed to draft a subcommittee report and route it to legal and the Public Service Committee for review. Pleasure offered to draft the report for review by Champagne and the chair before it is submitted to legal. The motion to submit the report was made formally and carried by consensus.

Details and outstanding questions: Committee members discussed several unresolved questions the report will address, including which entity owns specific facilities, who holds keys and is responsible for opening and closing, and the precise costs and terms of leases cited by residents (one lease was described in committee comments as $250 per month under a 10-year agreement, with one year remaining; committee members said they would confirm financial details in the written report). Members also noted gaps in how facility inventories and budgets are reported and asked for clearer alignment with the Recreation Policy Manual.

The meeting concluded after members agreed to prepare the written findings and submit them to legal; the subcommittee then adjourned.