One-On-One with Patrick McCage

Gainesville Daily Register

Cooke County — What are the future plans for the City of Gainesville swimming pool at Leonard Park?

The Gainesville Parks and Recreation Department (GPARD) had infrastructure repairs scheduled for 2010. However, due the decline in the economy, we had to postpone those repairs to a later date.

I will be requesting the repairs for the 2011 season, but we are still working through the budget process. They are costly improvements, but unfortunately, the public will not be able to see the improvements. They are designed to replace the aging piping, pump/motor and flooring in the basement pump room and they are needed to continue with efficient operation of the Leonard Park Pool.

Our desire is for a complete renovation of the facility, with active water features and modern locker rooms at that location, or an alternate one but that is just our desire. Renovations are expensive and what we are coming to grips with it will be years on down the line. We are doing everything we can to keep the current pool open.

I have proposed to keep it open for the 2011 pool season because we need to be able to offer some sort of aquatic recreation to the citizens of Gainesville and the surrounding communities.



How many parks does the City of Gainesville own and have available to the public?

My department oversees 212 acres of park land. Park land that is available to the public is just a bit over 100 acres. Leonard Park offers one of the best playgrounds for our youth in Gainesville, and thanks to Jim Goldsworthy, we will be adding an additional 2,400 sq ft. Keep your ears open because we will be having a volunteer call to the public real soon. We will need the public’s help again to build the expansion.

The newest addition to the park system is the Forsythe Skate Park which is located on Schopmeyer Street. Bill Forsythe stepped up to the plate and encouraged us in his own special way to “get it done.” Without his help, the skate park would not have been possible.

One of the most impressive growing activities in our park system is the adult softball program. All three leagues, Men’s (E league and D league) and Adult Coed have doubled, if not tripled, in attendance and probably this is due to the fact we are offer a three season league: spring, summer and fall. Give us a call and we will give you all the details for the upcoming fall season.



What is the attendance and use at the city parks this summer?

Leonard Park is on a course to have a record year. I do not oversee the Zoo, so I do not have those numbers, but what I base my attendance on are rides taken on the Frankie Schmitz’s Express train in Leonard Park. This year, if we hold course, we will set a record for ridership of over 35,000 riders. We operate the train seven days a week and the public is utilizing Leonard Park. I use a non-scientific rational to get total park attendance, but I estimate we have almost 100,000 people that come to Leonard Park on any given year. This not only includes the Zoo and train, but Leonard Park plays host to swimmers, family reunions and ball players.



Do we have an adequate number of parks to accommodate the many sports and activities that need to be scheduled?

Yes and no — what a political answer. Let me explain. Yes, we make do with what we have by the way of baseball and softball fields. It would be an added bonus to have at least one more field each, but with the organizations only playing one season (baseball and softball), the current count works.

The reason I said no to start off with is because of the fact that the current location in Leonard Park is busting at the seams due to overcrowded parking and degrading field conditions such as poor fencing, lack of irrigation, drainage issues and poor lighting. The current location, I believe, was constructed in the late 1980’s and residential fencing was used. Once again, I have plans but the dollars are not available to make the listed improvements. However can we dream a little here. In a perfect world, it is my desire to relocate and build a new softball four-plex on South Weaver just north of Keneteso Park. This would free up land in Leonard Park for baseball field expansion if need be and proper drainage work could be performed. With the removal of softball, the new south Weaver Street Softball Complex could host tournaments and be attractive to year round softball, which is what the GPARD will be trying to organize this year with “Fall Youth Softball.”

GPARD does not organize any youth sports, yet we maintain the facilities for the kids to play. Kids from all around the county play in Gainesville and it is my desire for the entire county (all communities) to come together and invest in youth baseball and softball. Not only cities like Lindsay, Valley View, Era, Callisburg and Muenster, but the Cooke County government. We all could do something that we all can use and be proud of. Can you tell I am passionate about baseball and softball?

If anyone from the surrounding communities has any other ideals regarding this topic, please call (940) 668-4530. I do have an open door policy.



Which sport, during the course of a year, is most scheduled at the city’s parks?

The largest would be youth soccer, with adult softball close behind. The soccer groups play at Keneteso Park. We have a 40 acre fully irrigated soccer complex. I believe with both soccer leagues we have 1,100 kids playing the sport and they play spring and fall leagues.

Drive on down to Keneteso Park and notice our two new structures in the park. Just this last year we completed the two projects which includes restrooms, storage/concession and pavilion on the north and south side of the park. Funds from the city and enhancement fees were used to complete the two buildings. An enhancement fee of $5 is collected from all who play on GPARD fields (soccer, football, baseball and softball).. From this small fund that the Gainesville Parks and Recreation board started a few years ago, GPARD has made over $60,000 worth of improvements and has collected over $80,000.



The Gainesville Civic Center is widely-used for a fee, as an event and meeting location. What amount of funds come to the city through renting the facility?

I oversee not only Parks and Recreation, but the Gainesville Civic Center and the Santa Fe Depot. These facilities are available to the public to be rented for any type of functions from wedding receptions to Quincerias to business meetings. We have state of the art audio video equipment to help with any business meetings. Our revenue for both facilities is right under $40,000 annually. I wish the return could be more and it is evaluated every year, but we keep our fees moderate due to the fact we are a Civic Center which is here for the public use. When the tax payer agreed to build the Civic Center in 1987, the public voiced a desire to have a facility for the community and I believe we are that type of business.

Our new neighbors, the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce, brought a new look to the Civic Center this past year and that helps with the prospective new clients. Back to community involvement, we are here for the public. This year we have hosted over 409 events at the Gainesville Civic Center. Of those events, over 300 were for non-profit organizations.

Give us a call and talk to Lynette Pettigrew or myself if you have any questions about Parks and Recreation and Civic Center/Santa Fe Depot rental.

My two departments that I oversee have made a pledge to the tax payer. We understand where our funding comes from — it comes from you. If you have a comment on how we can improve our service for your dollars, lets us know. We are working for you.

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