STAKEHOLDER GROUP DISCUSSION GRAND PRAIRIE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN By:
Patrick D. Hoagland, ASLA
April 20, 2016 Grand Prairie Boys Baseball Met with Rick Reeves 1. Brief history of your organization.
Boys baseball is part of USSA now, which allows them to be more profitable from tournaments. USSA offers a better quality of baseball than Dixie. Mr. Reeves has been involved with this organization for over 30 years.
2. Number of participants, demographics, growth history, trends and pressures as relating to the service that you offer.
Currently they have about 600 participants in the recreation leagues. At one time they had as many as 1,300. In the last five years they have increased by about 100. About 80% of players are City residents. Participants are ages 5 to 14 and are on 67 teams. There are also several travel teams, in conjunction with other cities. The seasons are end of March to June and fall baseball in October and November, only on Saturdays with practice during the week. Less play is desired in fall due to the grass being dormant. All coaches have background checks.
3. List of the facilities your organization currently uses. And your assessment of the adequacy of those facilities.
Mc Falls West fields – 6 fields of which 5 are lighted. These fields flood which impacts their usability and condition. They would be better as practice fields only, but there may be political pressure to keep them active. Flooding impacts mainly fields 1-4. Fields 5 and 6 need new lights. Charley Taylor Park – Use 3 fields, 2 for 13-14 year olds and one for 9-10 year olds. C.P. Waggoner Park – use 4 fields for 11-12 year olds and 1 field for T-Ball (5-8 year olds). Mike Lewis Park - All ages and 13-14 year olds. This was originally built primarily for softball. These fields need new lights also. They use all fields when hosting tournaments, which could have 80 to 100 teams, but could host more if facilities were available. Here are 300 teams in a benefit tournament they host. The number of fields used now is adequate, but some could be improved and are not easily accessible to residents in the south. 13-14 year olds need more fields with bases at 80’ and mound at 54’ distance and Major fields with 60’ pitching distance ad 90’ bases.
4. How are you funded?
E-10
Funded through fees and tournaments, plus concession income. No other fundraising is done. The Lone Starr Tournament is hosted with funds designated for field maintenance. They will host a tournament with proceeds going to the Grand Play project.
PROJECT DISCOVERY 2026: CREATING A GRAND PARK SYSTEM