Fort Smith to assume operation of downtown park

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted Tuesday (Dec. 15) to enter into an agreement by which the city’s Parks Department would operate The Park at West End.

Owned by Phil White and Charlie Still, the park opened in 2006 and features a 1935 World’s Fair Ferris Wheel, a hand painted Bertazzon Carousel made in Italy, a Double Decker Bus and a dining car from a passenger train. The park is located at North Second Street near the Garrison Avenue Bridge and the 201 Garrison Ave. parking lot.

White operated the park for two years and had a third-party operate it for a year. The activity at the park declined from 24,800 tickets sold in the first year ($2 per ticket), 17,400 tickets ($3 a ticket) sold the second year, and about 10,000 tickets ($3 a ticket) sold the third year.

The Parks and Recreation Commission, Central Business Improvement District and Advertising and Promotion Commission have recommended the city board adopt a plan to operate the park, according to a memo from Mike Alsup, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, to Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly.

Details of the plan include:
• The city would operate the rides and maintain landscaped beds. The concession stands, arcade area and restrooms will be managed by the dining car operator.
• Lease payment the first year will be $1, and the payment will be $6,000 the second year, although that rate could be negotiable.
• The CBID and a “private sponsor” will contribute $6,000 each — for a total of $12,000 — to offset any net loss to the city.
• The city will be responsible to pay for liability insurance, which is estimated at $8,000 per year.
• According to Alsup’s memo, the plan could produce a $1,999 gain or a $19,452 loss per year.

City Director Kevin Settle opposed the lease, saying that taking over the park may not help the city push its proposed quality of place plans during 2010. Also, Settle said the numbers don’t show the park being able to make money.

City Director Gary Campbell responded by reminding the board that the city spends around $700,000 a year on Creekmore Park and it doesn’t make money. He also said from a visual standpoint that it’s better to have The Park at West End active than just sitting there.

The board voted 5-2 to approve the lease, with Directors Settle and Bill Maddox opposing.