“I didn’t find a decent restroom or a water fountain for him to drink water from,” the District 6 City Council representative said. “I was on a mission — a mission for future children to have a decent facility.”

For Farmer the reality of the new Texas Bank Sports Complex and Rio Concho Community park was beginning to sink in at the city dedication Thursday.

The event marked the completion of the new complex, which starts hosting events immediately but which officially opens to the general public at a grand opening Aug. 1.

The complex will be home to the Southern Little League as well as the Girls Fast Pitch Program. It will provide local athletes with a place to play sports from softball and baseball to soccer and flag football. The complex includes community park elements such as a playground and concessions.

Play for the Southern Little League started Thursday at the park, and the state Firefighter Olympics will use its fields for some of their competitions during the coming week.

The park isn’t completely finished, however. There are still plans to add a trail along the river and more covers for some of the dugouts.

“For most of us here, we realize this is a historical achievement for our community,” said Carl White, director of Parks and Recreation. “We don’t have anything like this, and we never have.”

The project started in 2005.

“It’s great to get to this point,” White said. “The greatest satisfaction is when we see all these kids out there. It’s going to be a major asset for recreational and health benefits, but the biggest thing is the economic impact it could have.”

The Texas Bank name will remain with the facility for at least six years, the result of a move in 2006 by the City Council to sell naming rights. The bank bid $10,000 a year for six years to support the park and put its name on it.

Texas Bank President Gary Cox said he was happy to see the complex being put to use.

“It has taken awhile, there have been a lot of challenges, but there were a lot of people who worked hard to complete the project,” he said.

“When we looked at the naming opportunity, we felt like there were three good reasons to be a part of this,” Cox said. “There was need for it in the community. Some of us have traveled to our neighboring cities and have seen facilities far exceeding what we had to offer. This is no longer the case.”

Texas Bank also saw how the facility would directly benefit San Angeloans and the economic development for the city, he said.

“This is not the end,” Farmer said. “This is the beginning. The more we can do, the greater things we can do to build and capitalize on what we have, this is a fantastic day.”

ABOUT THE COMPLEX

Texas Bank Sports Complex and Rio Concho Community Park:

* 11 tournament-level softball fields

* 3 Little League fields

* 1 T-ball field

* 2 concession stand and restroom structures

* Pavilions, playgrounds, river access, standard park elements

Photo by Ken Grimm

Carl White, director of Parks and Recreation and Mayor pro-tem Jon Mark Hogg unveil the plaque for the Texas State Bank Sports Complex at the official dedication ceremony Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.

Photo by Ken Grimm

Gary Cox of Texas State Bank presents a check for $10,000 to Mayor pro-tem Jon Mark Hogg for the naming rights of the new complex.

Photo by Ken Grimm

A crowd of people that helped bring the new Texas Bank Sports Complex into being were on hand for the official dedication of the complex Thursday, July 16, 2009.