McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department could be getting some slight upgrades over the next year. Director Scott McCord is asking for park improvements in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2015-16.
Among the items currently in the budget are $80,000 to add lights to Pete Holt Field, $8,000 for bleachers, $5,000 for pool loungers, $20,000 for netting at Edley Newman and Cat Walker fields, $14,000 for foul poles, $13,000 for soccer goals, and $8,000 for outdoor fitness equipment.
According to McCord, outdoor fitness equipment is becoming very popular in parks and along walking trails. By eliminating the cost and improving the accessibility to exercise equipment, public fitness parks can increase activity levels in communities.
McCord says the equipment will be evenly placed along the walking trail behind the Civic Center so people can achieve an overall workout.
“These are machines that use your own weight. There are different kinds of equipment that you can get. I think these would be a benefit and well used,” said McCord.
While the new soccer goals will be for Pistole Park, the foul poles will be for all the city’s fields.
  “Most of our soccer goals at Pistole Park are falling apart. We’ve welded them so many times,” said McCord. “One thing we are looking into is new foul poles for all the ball fields to bring up the look, instead of having PVC poles. We want to do the infields and outfields.”
 For future tournaments, netting is needed on the fields and Pete Holt Field is the only one without lights.
 The bleachers will be for the ball fields behind the Civic Center.
 “Anything over four rows has to have a fence around it,” said McCord. “It has to be ADA compliant.”
  The budget was presented to Parks and Recreation Committee members Aldermen Steve Harvey and Jimmy Bonner. Absent from the meeting was Aldermen Ben Newman. The proposed budget was approved and sent to the Finance Committee for its consideration.