Prairie Pete’s facelift

Bianca Pineda grew up playing on Prairie Pete and friends at Sherwood Park.

But the Odessa woman, whose mother lives near the park, said she’s looking forward to a restoration.

She noted that some of the older features are really dangerous now.

“I grew up here, and I love the park,” Pineda said. “I think it will be much better when the work’s done.”

Odessa’s most used recreational area — Sherwood Park — will be close on the heels of McKinney Park in getting a much-needed upgrade.

Although no target date has been set for the start of construction on the upgrade for Prairie Pete and his pals’ abode, Odessa Parks and Recreation Director Steve Patton said the need for the work is obvious to those who frequent the park.

In a town meeting at the Sherwood Park Community Center in October, residents gave their views on what should be done at the park. Suggestions ranged from renovations to the Prairie Pete playground area to a covered basketball pavilion, disc golf and even a pavilion for concerts and theater.

Patton said he hopes some of the old features in the park such as the octopus and the spider can be saved “because of the historical significance.” But some will not stay, he said.

“We take the input and put a priority to it,” Patton said Thursday. “We’re still working on concepts based on the input coming out of the community meetings.”

But one upgrade is certain at this point, he noted. “First is an irrigation system. The old system was put in during the 1940s, and we’re still operating that by hand,” Patton said.

“You don’t grow grass in this area without an irrigation system,” he said.

Beyond the irrigation system which landscape architect Chad Davis of Parkhill, Smith and Cooper’s Lubbock office estimated will cost $700,000, about $2.3 million is available for the park renovations.

Davis said Friday he expects the final concepts for the upgrade to be completed by mid-March with another meeting during the summer to present those to the community.

He said the irrigation system will be one intended not only to water the park grass which covers about 35 acres, but will also be designed to conserve water.

“We’re following the master plan completed in 2005,” Patton said. “The community set the priority list.”