The City of Houston received a grant last week to develop two new soccer fields.
The $47,250 award will be used to build Rutherford Park on seven acres of land west of the Houston Memorial Airport that is used to store field dirt. Development will include two soccer fields, family picnic area, handicapped accessibility and a parking area.
Houston was one of six Missouri communities approved by the National Park Service to receive more than $275,000 in federal grants to assist with park and recreation needs. The grants are part of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is a federal program that can be used to acquire, develop and renovate outdoor recreation projects.
The grants were recommended to the National Park Service by the State Inter-Agency Council for Outdoor Recreation. Winners were projects with the highest score based on meeting the recreational needs of the communities, planning goals and unique or specific attributes. All projects require a 55-percent match.
Houston’s project became necessary when the city lost two large soccer fields located at the northeast edge of the airport. A redevelopment plan includes hangars that will be built over the fields. The only remaining field is a small one for ages 4-6 at West Side Park.
The new fields are part of property that was previously purchased for a golf course near the airport. The new park is not part of the airport right-of-way.
Development of Rutherford Park will include:
––One small and one regulation size soccer field.
––Two picnic tables.
––One handicapped accessible picnic table.
––Graveled parking area, separate area for handicapped parking.
––Handicapped accessibility from parking area to fields and tables.
––Removal of small trees.
––Earthwork to level soccer fields.
––Seeding and mulch for fields and picnic areas.
––Fencing around soccer fields.
––Placing of signage.
Other projects approved were: City of Gerald, park improvements, $75,000; City of Hayti, walking trail upgrades, $25,476; City of Kirksville, Jaycee Park improvements, $35,000; City of Memphis, Lake Show Me Trail, $37,000; and City of Warsaw, Bledsoe Ferry Complex Improvements, $56,812.