Tarrant Parks and Recreation prepares field for first youth league home football game

TARRANT, Ala. ( WIAT ) — A plan four years in the making for Tarrant Youth League football, cheer, and soccer is finally becoming a reality.

The former Tarrant High School football field property is undergoing renovations to become a playable field. Tarrant Parks and Recreation Superintendent Scott Evans hopes it can host its first home youth football league game on Sept. 21.

President of the Park Board Christopher Beck got the ball rolling by reaching out to the Tarrant City school board. He spoke with them about leasing the former Tarrant High School football field property.

“These kids need all the help we can give,” Beck said. “I went back to my childhood. I had older guys worked with me so my way, I didn’t forget where I came from.”

The city has spent about $93,000 to get the field game day ready. An anonymous donor is offering to match up to $25,000 to cover immediate needs including maintenance, field painting and fixing the old scoreboard.

“We’re trying to reach out to former high school players, former students, former band members and former cheerleaders,” Evans said. “[One] said he will give up to $25,000 matching what is donated.”

Mayor Wayman Newton is supportive of the project, noting there were no recreation leagues in the city of Tarrant for almost two decades.

“Any chance that we can actually give kids an opportunity to do something positive and constructive, it’s very much something we should do,” Newton said.

Community members are also for the development, especially those whose children play sports.

“It’s convenient. We don’t have to travel all the way to Carver High School anymore, it’s in our own backyard,” Reshondra Matthews said, whose son plays quarterback for the Tarrant City Duck’s Youth Football League.

Evans said the Parks and Rec department is leasing the field property. He hopes the school district will eventually sell it to the city, which would make them eligible to apply for grants that would cover lighting, concessions and restrooms.

Tarrant City Schools Superintendent Sherlene McDonald confirmed this and said at this point there has not been a conversation about the sale of the property, which would be a board decision.

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