McKinney Park update

Face it, cold weather and water just don’t mix.

So, Steve Patton, director of Odessa’s Parks and Recreation Department said the work on the renovations to McKinney Park pretty much froze in its tracks after the weather cooled down in November.

“Everything at the park is open to the public and has been since November,” Patton said.

But work on the $2.8 million renovation of Odessa’s oldest park really ended in early November with only the sprayground and a small amount of minor dirtwork remaining, Patton said.

Patton said he’s pleased with what’s been done so far by Debra Lindsey and her crew from Basic Industries in Midland.

“They’ve done a very good job,” Patton said.

Friday a number of visitors to the park apparently agreed with Patton’s assessment about the cold weather. They were sitting in their vehicles though the temperature had warmed to the mid-40s.

One was Frank Wilson, who said he’s employed by an Odessa trucking company. He said he came to the park to eat his lunch and get away from work for awhile.

“They did a good upgrade,” Wilson said. “It looks like a lot of stuff for the kids to do to keep them out of trouble.”

But there’s still work to finish.

“It’s too cold to work on the sprayground,” Patton said Thursday as icy conditions pushed the mercury in the thermometer down to a bone-chilling 22 degrees just after 8 a.m.

“I won’t let them install the water amenities until warm weather,” Patton said.

When will that be?

“In the spring. It all depends on the weather,” Patton said with a sigh.

Then he remembered, “It snowed at Easter last year.”

>> A spray ground.

>> Sports fields.

>> Horseshoe court.

>> Picnic pavilion.

>> Basketball court.

>> Parking lots.

>> Restrooms.

>> Walking trails.

>> An amphitheater.

>> Playgrounds.

>> Renovated tennis courts.