Fourteen years and $9.5 million later, Ellis-Methvin Park is complete and was celebrated Thursday, Dec. 15.
The 2016 UYFL National Championships did more than just bring more football to Plant City this month: it was also a confirmation.
Now, the City of Plant City knows that Ellis-Methvin Park is finally complete and ready for anything.
The City, along with its recreation and parks department and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park’s soccer fields on Thursday, Dec. 15. The ceremony gave Plant Citians a chance to see many of the park’s features in action, from the soccer fields to the playground area, and to celebrate an evening 14 years in the making.
“If you ever want to see what $9.5 million looks like, just take a look around,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “I think you’ll see that it was money well-spent.”
Ellis-Methvin Park is the largest of Plant City’s three primary parks, which include Mike E. Sansone Park and the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex. Together, the parks total 150 acres of land.
Formerly a privately-owned orange grove, the park was acquired from Dr. Roy Ellis in 2002 for $1.4 million. Development of infrastructure and land preparations began in 2003, and some soccer fields, a walking trail and parking areas, among other amenities, were ready to go in 2005. Since then, the park has added the Plant City Tennis Center, six additional soccer fields, a playground, four baseball and softball fields, a concession area and more.
A large part of the $9.5 million total came from federal, state and county grants applied for by the City, which totaled $3,260,611.
Lott highlighted the park’s versatility and noted that Plant City parks host events 42 weeks out of the year.
“Our parks help us improve our quality of life and support the economy,” he said.
For the ceremony, the City invited several groups expected to use Ellis-Methvin’s facilities frequently. The Plant City FC Lancers and FC Plant City soccer programs were represented, with the Lancers holding practice and scrimmages afterward for the public to see. The Plant City Dolphins and Colts football organizations got shout-outs, as both are expected to use the soccer fields for pigskin purposes, and Plant City Little League was also invited to check out the diamonds.
Just before the ribbon was cut, City Manager Mike Herr made sure to thank director Jack Holland and the rest of the recreation and parks department team for 14 years of hard work.
“We are truly blessed, in city government, to have the men and women that we do and the talent that we have … they know how to take care of parks,” Herr said. “They know how to do it.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
