General Info

The Decatur Parks and Recreation Department is a department of the local municipal government operated by a permanent, full-time staff, with the assistance of a volunteer citizens advisory board. Board appointments are made by the City Council for a term of five years. The Parks and Recreation Department operates four recreation community centers, one outdoor and one indoor swimming pool, Wilson Morgan Softball Complex and Tennis Center, Jack Allen Recreational Complex, one historic site museum and 41 parks encompassing 500-acres. These include 27 developed playgrounds, 42 lighted tennis courts, an 11 acre laser graded, irrigated, and lighted soccer complex, and numerous lighted and unlighted softball and baseball fields. Jack Allen Recreation Complex is a 77 acre, state of the art facility which features 11 International sized soccer fields. These laser-graded fields have computerized irrigation, sub-drainage, television quality lighting and a wireless public address system. The two championship fields have wireless scoreboards with the premiere field bleachers accommodating up to 2500 spectators. Coaches and players have compared our technologically advanced facility to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The master plan for the Jack Allen Recreation Complex also includes a playground, splash pad and recreation center which will be added to the grounds at a later date. The Decatur Parks and Recreation Department is associated with the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA), the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), and the American Parks and Recreation Society (APRS). Our Mission Statement: It is the mission of Decatur Parks and Recreation to provide high quality recreation and leisure facilities, park programs and activities, to meet the demonstrated needs of all citizens who reside within the city through sound planning, efficient allocation of resources and effective management.