By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend Public Lands Department is responsible for the airport, Expo grounds, cemeteries, Wetlands Water Park, Brit Spaugh Zoo, Sports Complex, all parks, and various other public areas.
There are 2,015 acres of land the department takes care of, including 13 parks and 16 baseball and softball fields. In 2019, Great Bend’s facilities hosted 12 tournaments, 243 teams, and 451 games. Counting all the games, there have been 832 total games played on all the fields so far this year.
Public Lands Director Scott Keeler says his department also takes care of several events indoors.
"Park staff is also responsible for any of the city or civic organizations' events that happen throughout the community," said Keeler. "Through the year, we have supported 100 functions at the Events Center, 45 events at the Expo Grounds, and 27 civic/city events."
With so much traffic on the ballfields, one of the top goals of 2020 for the Public Lands Department is to get new ballfield lighting at Veterans Memorial Park. Keeler noted the city is pursuing new lighting at Vets “very aggressively” and hope to have something in place before the start of the spring baseball and softball seasons.