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A master plan for Port Arthur’s Adams Park Sports Complex received city council approval though the details such as the cost have yet to be determined.

Burdett Consultants was tasked at creating the plan from site inventory and analysis, community engagement and prioritization of needs to recommendations, plan development, possible costs and possible financial performance.

The plan could include baseball and softball fields, T-ball field, concessions/restroom, an all play area, miracle league field, football fields, pavilion and more.

The park, located on Staff/Sergeant Lucian Adams Drive is across from Memorial High School and bounded by 60^th Street and 61^st Street.

The plan includes an opportunity for five large soccer fields, hiking path, play areas, and cricket field.

Claudia Walker with Burdett said there were additional ideas built in for future use such as an indoor recreation center, gymnasium, and more.

Mayor Thurman Bartie asked about the sports complex being all-inclusive — can basketball, volleyball fields and even track be added?

“There’s a space challenge first of all. We need to make sure there’s adequate parking for that complex and this is where the opportunity across 60^th Street opens up some things, especially if you’re able to go with the large indoor facility,” Shane Howard with Burdett said. “Because then, that kind of facility, that main floor, you’re talking a good six to eight full size basketball courts. Of course it can be broken up into volleyball, that can be broken up into single goal youth basketball as well.”

Howard presented the financial portion of the plan, which is aimed at bringing in tourists through sports tournaments.

His plan shows seven diamond fields, three T-ball fields, and two rectangular fields that could be used for football.

Tournaments could be divided up as single elimination, double elimination and round robin, which determines how many teams could be playing.

Besides bringing in tournament players there would be a benefit to the city, from people staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, shopping and more.

But should the city go with the plan with an eye toward some sort of revenue it would be in competition with Beaumont’s Ford Fields.

The Beaumont fields consist of 12 championship level youth baseball and softball fields where national tournaments are held.

Councilman Donald Frank asked if there was a way to enlarge some of the smaller fields to be able to handle more tournament play. Walker said it would be challenging to do with Memorial High School so near and the roadway serving school traffic.

There was some sticker price shock at an estimated $30 million. Councilman Harold Doucet said he is in favor of the sports complex but is worried about the cost.

“This is a beautiful plan given to our citizens. I believe the money was supposed to be allocated every year to go toward improving their quality f life,” Doucet said.
“I love where it is going to go. I need to know how we’re going to get there.”

The submission of Adams Park Sports Complex Master Plan was approved Tuesday but the issue of funding the project is not up for vote at this time.

In May 2021 voters in Port Arthur approved reallocating a portion of sales tax funds to improve city parks.

The proposition included taking 1/8 of 1/2 cent of the economic development corporation sales tax and using it for projects relating to recreational or community facilities.

This created the reallocation of $3 million in sales tax revenue split into $1 million each year for three years.