Fort Smith directors ready to pursue water park plan

Fort Smith city directors appear unanimous and excited in their support of further investigating a partnership with Sebastian County to develop a water park at Ben Geren Regional Park.

The directors during a Tuesday (Jan. 26) study were presented a water parks plan by Sebastian County Judge David Hudson, Andrew Smith, a principal at Kansas City, Mo.-based Larkin Aquatics, and Ken Ballard, president of Highlands Ranch, Colo.-based Ballard King & Associates.

A 2009 public survey conducted by the University of Arkansas as part of a Ben Geren park review found that an aquatics park was the most requested new feature, Hudson said. With that potential demand, Hudson said the county sought a business and design plan, which Larkin and Ballard King recently completed.

The design plan includes two concepts. The first concept could cost about $4.75 million, with a projected operating budget of $540,463 and projected revenue of $415,250, leaving an expected annual operating loss of $125,213. This proposal will serve 815, and is based on the county being solely responsible for construction and operation.

A second concept could cost about $7.5 million, with a projected operating budget of $822,772 and projected revenue of $709,300, leaving an expected annual operating loss of $113,472. This proposal will serve 1,500, and is based on the county and city partnering on construction and operation.

The 66-page study from Ballard King and Larkin suggests an aquatics park at Ben Geren would serve a population of 271,000 within a 30-mile radius — which would include the municipal water park in Alma. Ballard and Hudson stressed several times during the presentation that the economic analysis was based using conservative projections.

“We’re not oversizing, even with concept B, for your market,” Ballard said when asked about market demand for the larger concept. Ballard even predicted the larger water park “will hit capacity on a hot July day.”

Although many details would have to be approved by the city and county, Ballard estimated an average admission ticket of $5.

Director Don Hutchings called the presentation “exciting,” and said Fort Smith “needs this,” although he wanted more information about the economics behind the project.

Director Kevin Settle said the larger concept “will be packed every day,” and added that area citizens “deserve something like this.” City Director Andre Good also supported the larger concept.

The board is expected to consider action at its Feb. 2 meeting that would authorize city staff to work with Hudson and county officials on a partnership agreement.

In a proposal for quality of place projects, City Administrator Dennis Kelly has suggested setting aside $4 million for the water park with an annual $130,000 budget to support park operations. The funds would come from a 10-year, 10% reallocation of the 1-cent street tax that generates around $20 million a year.