Trigg Parks & Recreation Wonder What’s Next

As the Cadiz-Trigg County Joint Parks & Recreation Board convened Wednesday afternoon at City Hall, two questions lingered the longest.

“What’s next after the West Cadiz Park renovation?” and “How do we find more green space to develop in the community?”

It became a roundtable discussion between members Matt Ladd, Jeff Hunter, Scotty Hampton, Brian Futrell, Lucas Hale and Angie Reynolds — with some submitted suggestions from an absent Mike Wright — in which ideas were tossed about.

Hunter and Ladd both agreed that the immediate success of the West Cadiz Park has been hard to miss these. The parking lot remains full during appropriate times, and the new equipment is being used by children young, intermediate and old.

Hampton, and others, suggested the possibility of adding on other accoutrement to that area — perhaps a pickleball court, or a half pickleball, half basketball court.

The issue, Futrell and others admitted, is that while the Army Corps of Engineers has been more than helpful in this most recent endeavor, and a previous one in adding the disc golf course, Little River’s flood zone continues to rear its head.

Requesting grant funding and approval for new implements, they said, might not come together into a good idea.

Ladd said no matter what the board, or the community, suggests at this time — be it tennis courts, pickleball courts, a skate park, a dog park, or whatever — a lack of affordable, appropriate land size, and its required parking, remains.

The most immediately usable property owned by the City of Cadiz right now, according to the board, is the right side of the former Economy Cee-Bee parking lot — which at present serves as parking for the Farmers’ Market and JunqueFest, as well as the staging area for primary entertainment during the Trigg County Country Ham Festival.

The empty space between the Cadiz Baptist Annex and the Renaissance Stage, some said, is a bit too small for a major addition to the community — and it’s also a key spot during downtown events. It was suggested that the old Trigg County Schools bus lot — located across from East End Cemetery — might be a prime location for something. Ladd, however, and as the district’s director of operations, noted it would be unlikely property to be relinquished — because it’s one of the final flat spots remaining for any potential growth or expansion.

Futrell said there’s still time to be proactive, but that it was and has been frustrating for this committee, and other entities, who could use the space.

Furthermore, Ladd noted there’s a difference between activities in the city limits, versus out of them.

One property that would be a dream, but seems non-negotiable for purchase or improvements right now, is the former McUpton School grounds along Jefferson Street and Highway 139.

Other notes from the meeting:

— The West Cadiz Park bathrooms, Hunter said, should be opened sometime around April 1. They are seasonal through the Corps of Engineers, and are closed and winterized during the frigid months.

— Speaking of the West Cadiz Park, Hunter said new sod will be laid soon, tamping down some of the mud being smeared all over the new playground.

— The board did unanimously approve $500 for continued financial sponsorship of the tractor pull.