Construction on the Center Soccer park is progressing with plans to be ready in the fall.
June 23, 2020 - During the City of Center Council meeting held at the John D. Windham Civic Center on June 22, 2020, several of the items of interest pertained to the city's parks and recreation, including the opening of the spray park located at the Center Mini Park off Tenaha Street.
City Manager Chad Nehring advised the city has been following the COVID-19 guidelines set forth by Governor Greg Abbott and at this time, it appears restrictions of spray grounds operating has been removed. The city plans on opening the spray park on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The council did ask questions regarding public safety and Nehring advised the parks are being disinfected daily.
Construction is in progress for the Soccer Park's new concession stand and restrooms.
Another park item mentioned by Nehring was regarding baseball/softball and soccer, "We are still, as far as we know, complying with standards. We have obviously opened up some games, baseball and softball. Soccer chose to go a different route, I don't think I included that, they were kind of too late into the summer and they just decided to postpone till fall. Which won't be a bad thing. We should be up and running and ready to go at Ballard Street. So, they will have a new home, a permanent home. At this point youth baseball State tournaments are still on and scheduled."
Lights have been installed for the soccer fields.
State Tournaments are scheduled for the last weekend of June and then the 2nd and 3rd weekend in July.
According to Texas Dixie Youth Baseball, due to cancellation of the DYB World Series, Texas will have special tournament play for eligible franchised leagues to be called the Texas DYB Super Series Regionals and Texas DYB Super Series Championships. All sanctioned 2020 District tournaments are cancelled, however, Center will host an invitational tournament for 7U, 9U and 11U teams if enough teams will participate. Center is also hosting the South Division I and II “O”Zone (12U) and AAA (10U) the weekend of August 1, 2020.
The final item of interest mentioned during the meeting pertaining to parks was a donation from Tyson Foods, Inc. for Perry Sampson Park renovations.
"We have some very good news from our friends at Tyson Corporate this last week they agreed to step up and pay, participate, cooperate on the Perry Sampson Grant application and cover a substantial amount of required non government match that's in the application. So, [Tyson] helped out the committee that's worked hard to help raise some money and this puts it over the top. So, we were excited about that," Nehring shared.
Mayor David Chadwick added, "I think this is one of the larger charitable grants, or gifts that Tyson has made to any project the city has done." Nehring agreed the gift is without any benefit to the facility and is for the community.
The letter dated June 18, 2020 to the City opened with, "Thank you for your grant application to Tyson Foods, Inc. On behalf of our Charitable Giving Committee, I'm pleased to inform you that a grant of $75,000 for the renovation of the Perry Sampson Park has been approved."
The letter will be immediately sent to Texas Parks and Wildlife to go along with the city's grant application for Perry Sampson Park renovation. Texas Parks and Wildlife anticipates award notifications being sent in August.
