Pike Parks and Recreation to get $1.9 million in federal funding for lighting upgrades

The Pike County Parks and Recreation Authority will get $1.9 million for electrical upgrades as part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations (THUD) bill that passed the House and Senate and was signed by President Trump Feb. 3.

PCPRA chairman Chris Childress said the bill includes funding for electrical upgrades at Pike County’s Parks and Recreation facilities.

“The PCPRA is the watering hole of Pike County. Has been for generations. Local taxes can only do so much to keep pace with a community culture that thrives on healthy living. In an attempt to stay ahead of productive growth, about three years ago, the PCPRA pivoted from relying solely on local funding and went after a State funded DNR Outdoor Stewardship Grant and Federal Congressional Funding,” said Childress.

DNR awarded PCPRA a $1.5 million dollar grant and work has begun to develop the park’s Master Plan items including acres of paved parking, a walking track and disc golf.

Childress said federal funding was targeted for much-needed electrical infrastructure upgrades at the recreational facility.

“The baseball/softball complex’s electrical infrastructure is in ill-repair. The wooden light poles have long needed replacement, being weather worn and woodpecker wrecked,” said Childress.

“Add the year round, lift-required, changing of hydrogen sodium bulbs and/or scorched wiring and/or breaker failure and/or ballast failure and electricity has become an aggravating, unpredictable annual budget burden. It has caused considerable issues for the PCPRA because of a failing electrical infrastructure,” said Childress.

PCPRA originally submitted an appropriations request to U.S. Congressman Drew Ferguson’s office in 2024. When Ferguson retired, members of the PCPRA board started communicating with Congressman Brian Jack in 2025 and the item made the final cut in the House’s THUD bill which was passed to the Senate as part of a larger federal omnibus bill.

“Congressman Jack’s team has remained friendly and informative as the PCPRA has persisted to be a squeaky wheel. The list made the final cut in the House’s THUD Bill. Electrical upgrade initiated. A healthy and financially responsible use of federal funds that would work to take weight off of Pike County taxpayers,” said Childress.

In addition to $38.4 billion for rental assistance programs and $4.4 billion for homeless assistance grants, the bill would provide “for expenses necessary to carry out recreation programs, natural programs, cultural programs, heritage partnership programs, environmental compliance and review, international park affairs and grant administration” in the amount of $91,233,000.