Bossier City could spend $3M to fix Tinsley Park, but citizens want to use it more

A Bossier City multi-purpose sports complex was the hot topic Tuesday afternoon at the Bossier City City Council meeting. Citizens of Bossier City came out to voice their concerns about accessibility to city-owned sports fields.

Tinsley Athletic Complex is one of five playlots in Bossier City and appeared on the Oct. 4, council meeting agenda for the expansion of the parking lot.

The ordinance was asking the council if it would appropriate $3,000,000 from the 2018 LCDA Bond Fund towards improvements and expansion of the parking lot for Tinsley Park.

Kade Darlington said, "I'm here today to discuss the additional funding for Tinsley, the $3 million in additional funding. I personally do not support appropriating any additional funds for Tinsley until all taxpayers have an equal opportunity to access."

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Councilman Brian Hammons asked Clay Bohanan, Director of Parks and Recreation why residents of Bossier City could not rent out or use the Tinsley ball fields.

"One of the biggest complaints that I get called every week by multiple people is that they're not allowed to rent the fields out there for practice during the week. They're taxpaying citizens of Bossier City, a lot of them have businesses, they play travel ball, and they would like to rent the fields," said Hammons.

Bohanan's response was that with that model seen in fellow cities such as Ruston, the fields are damaged due to metal cleats and the lack of rest time for the grass. Bohanan said, "that dog don't hunt... you can't just open the fields."

The introduction to this ordinance was passed with two in opposition and four in support, it will appear on the Oct. 18 agenda.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Tinsley Ball Park in Bossier City is a hot topic for citizens