Tomorrow night, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Coquille Sports Complex, 13505 Louisiana Highway 1085, officials with Recreation District 14 and Parish President Kevin Davis will hold a public meeting to ask residents of the area what they would like to see done with 90 acres acquired three years ago through a bond issue.

The land adds to the 44 acres already in use by RD14, which extends from Lake Pontchartrain north to just outside Covington, and then west all the way to the St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parish line.

The Parish Council created the district in 1999, according to RD14 Board Chairman Stephen Dwyer. “At first we had no funds and no land,” Dwyer said. “And let me tell you the district is large.”

RD14 serves residents in west St. Tammany Parish that includes Madisonville, and all areas west to the Tangipahoa Parish boundary.

The district then had three bond issues to raise money to buy land and build parks and sporting facilities. The district first bought 44 acres on La. 1085 just off Interstate 12 near Archbishop Hannan High School. Dwyer said with the bond money, they were able to build several baseball and softball complexes complete with concession stands. Also built were two soccer fields along with gymnasiums. The district is in the process of planning and building a jogging path, Dwyer said.

Three years ago, the district was able to buy 90 acres right behind the original 44 acres, and Dwyer said he wants public input to help make a plan.

“We don’t want to start building without a master plan,” he said.

Dwyer added that the master plan is not just for facilities and buildings, but also for what kind of programs to offer.

“We have a lot of youth sports programs, but we also want to include adults and senior citizen programs. We want to know what people want,” Dwyer said.

He said citizens might come up with interesting ideas like an archery range, or a lawn bowling green.

“The focal point of the public meetings is the actual use of the land,” Dwyer said. “We know it will be a nice facility, but we want to do it correctly.”

For more information on the meeting, call Tiffany Robicheaux at 892-9829.