On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Whitesboro City Council agreed to fund 25 percent of the cost for new restrooms and pickleball courts to be added to Whitecotton Park.
Now, an item that has been on the agenda for a very long time might soon come to fruition. Whitesboro Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Director Penny Renfroe said in 2010, the city began a renovation of Whitecotton Park. She said they only had two fields there and slowly started a year-by-year process where they built and added on a little bit at a time.
Renfroe said since then, PARD and the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) have begun the process.
They have added two other fields, installed irrigation and lighting, and added a playground and a parking lot. Renfroe said they pretty much completed the projects at Whitecotton Park in 2015.
The following year, they requested restrooms for the north area of the park. The original two fields currently have a restroom there with a small storage space.
The request made for restrooms in 2016 was the next part of the plan for the park’s renovation.
The goal is for a restroom to be built near the two smaller fields where 8u boys and girls and t-ball games are held. Every year since, Renfroe said they have made a request for the restrooms.
In the meantime, they have placed a porta-potty near those fields, a less-than-ideal situation for younger siblings, parents, grandparents and family members with physical issues.
Renfroe is ready to move forward with a more permanent solution.
“In an effort to move off high-center, we’ve looked at it from every different direction. A design build, using precast (where the entire building is concrete) and prefabrication,” Renfroe said.
She said they have landed with the decision on using prefabrication.
PARD would like the city to participate with the EDC. Renfroe said the proposed pickleball court is also located at Whitecotton Park. If those two projects are put together, the total would be about $355K. The estimated amount includes a restroom and small storage area. She said if the city would pay a portion of the cost and the EDC would pay a portion of the cost, the city would be able to complete what is really needed in that area to serve the people that come to the games and events at the park. Mayor Dave Blaylock said the city will commit to 25 percent if the EDC agrees to pay 75 percent of the cost.
“Basically, this is an opportunity to hopefully work with EDC. They’ve got bigger things coming down the pipeline, and they can assist us in being able to accomplish our goal. We have to get those restrooms right there for people,” Blaylock said.
Renfroe said they will plan to build a two-stall restroom for men and women that will be handicap accessible. Mayor Pro-Tem Carla Woolsey asked if having a concession stand will still be a part of the plans, since it was a part of the original request. Renfroe said in order to get what the park and community needs, she thinks it’s better to build without a concession stand.
Renfroe mentioned food truck vendors as an option to use at the park during events and games. Woolsey motioned and Alderman Mike Pack seconded. The motion carried. The City Council approved the 25 percent for the restroom and pickleball project at Whitecotton Park, leaving the ball in EDC’s court to decide if they will cover the remaining 75 percent of the cost.