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Commission backs $4 million‑per‑year parks plan, adds $40,000 for school field fixes
Summary
The commission approved an appropriations resolution for county parks improvements as part of a three‑year $12 million program and adopted a $40,000 amendment to address dugout/fence work at two high schools; the item survived an attempted reconsideration and passed 18–4.
The Williamson County Commission voted to approve an appropriations resolution to begin a three‑year parks and recreation program, structured as a $12 million plan with $4 million allocated per year. The measure (Resolution 11‑07‑26) passed after an amendment added $40,000 to fund facility corrections at Fairview and Page high schools — $10,000 for Fairview and $30,000 for Page — to relocate fences and dugouts to comply with athletic regulations.
Parks Director Doug Hood described the parks plan as a multi‑year effort and said the county bought more than 33 acres for future complexes. "This is a $12,000,000 plan over 3 years with $4,000,000 each year," he told commissioners, describing the funding as coming from bond proceeds and excess privilege‑tax revenue. Hood said the appropriation will fund initial grading, parking and irrigation to make fields playable.
Commissioner Tommy Little moved the amendment to add $40,000 for high‑school projects, saying the Page fields were built by Parks & Rec and required correction; supporters cited program growth and urgent playing needs. Critics, including Commissioner Barnwell and others, said the commission should require fuller cost estimates for multi‑phase projects and guard against incremental approvals that lack an all‑in number.
Commissioners also debated whether such school‑site improvements should be funded from school budgets rather than parks funding. An attempt to reconsider the $40,000 addition and send the matter back to committees failed; commissioners ultimately approved the parks resolution as amended by a roll‑call vote of 18–4.
What happens next: Parks staff will proceed with the projects authorized by the resolution and coordinate with schools where facilities are shared; budget and implementation details will be subject to committee oversight where required.
