Temporary Solution Made For Shade at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex

A temporary fix has been found for those looking for shade and to cool off while at the Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex in the Town of Cortlandville. During Wednesday’s Cortlandville Town Board meeting, Parks & Recreation Director for the town, John McNerney, provided quotes for either renting or purchasing a shade structure.

Town Board Member David Donlick spoke to the Town Board after a recent trip he had to Gutchess Lumber. He says while at the park during a hot day, he spoke with a family who visits the park twice a year for baseball telling him that the town needs to do something about how there are no shaded areas near the baseball fields. Donlick added that it’s also a “detriment” to not having any shade near the newly opened concession stand at the center of the four fields.

Fellow Board Member, Glenn Reisweber, brought up that the town could purchase shade structures through a grant it has with the state that would allow the purchase of shade structures. Mr. McNerney clarified to the board that he obtained quotes for tents and not actual shade structures.

“We have a total lack of shade [at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex] and we’re taking steps to address it. We have applied, for folks who don’t know, for a New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation grant, which includes amenities; shade structures, benches, [and] a number of different aspects.”

McNerney said.

McNerney agreed with what Donlick was speaking of in terms of how hot it can get during the summer. The plan would be to have the tent near the concession stand to allow patrons to eat under the tent with benches moved from the pavilion. He added there is a plan to plant 50 trees in 2026 at the complex for natural shade structures, but the trees will take years to grow to be useful for shade for visitors to Gutchess Lumber.

If the town is awarded grant funding from the New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation for amenities, the town can look at permanent solutions for shading. McNerney added he has past experience with permanent shade structures such as the structures at Suggett Park in Cortland when he was Youth Bureau Director.

A temporary solution for the lack of shade this summer season at the complex was to rent a tent for 4 weeks at a total cost of $1,200. This cost also includes set-up and delivery of the tent to the complex. The board agreed to the temporary solution and pricing for the tent and voted unanimously to rent the tent for the next four weeks.