Noah has to wait to put his boats in the water

story and photo by Marla Cantrell
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Noah Steffy has a paddle boat problem.

He wants to set up a rental site at Cap Bedell Lake at Van Buren’s city park but there’s a hurdle blocking his way. Steffy has to get permission from the city council and right now that’s just not possible.

“We couldn’t enter into a lease agreement with Noah if we wanted to right now because we have an ordinance that prevents any boats whatsoever from Lake Cap Bedell,” Mayor Bob Freeman said. “We would have to amend that ordinance to remove that restriction if we were to decide to let Noah provide these services.”

Freeman said he looked into the problem and didn’t find a substantial reason why the paddle boats should be banned on the 11-acre lake.

“I thought maybe there was something about natural resources,” Freeman said. “I checked with Game and Fish and the only thing they said is, ‘Don’t let the water out of the lake and don’t mess with the dam.’”

Steffy presented his proposal to bring three paddle boats, a concession stand, and fishing pole rental stand to the Van Buren City Council on Monday (Mar. 15). He said his family has rented rafts, kayaks and canoes on the Buffalo River for seven years. Steffy and his wife operate a paddle boat rental business in Fort Smith.

“I’ve got a year at Carol Ann Cross Park,” Steffy said. “There were 2,730 who rented paddle boats, some from Australia and Japan. We had 106 days of operation, 29 of those were partial days because of the weather. I’m very particular about the weather. We have our own little radar station, basically, and we close down if there’s a storm within 40 miles.”

Steffy said he would run the Van Buren operation and his wife would manage the Carol Ann Cross paddle boat service.

Aaron Lee, with Fort Smith Parks and Recreation, said Steffy’s lease was signed in June of last year and won’t be for renewal until 2011. He said the paddle boats are popular.

“I do think that it draws more people to the park and gives citizens additional options for outdoor activities,” Lee said.

Steffy is required to pay 15% of gross receipts, exclusive of taxes. The City of Fort Smith has made approximately $1,000 off of the rental of paddle boats. Van Buren would also receive 15% of gross receipts.

The Van Buren City Council is considering Steffy’s offer. To make it happen, they would have to amend the ordinance to allow the paddle boats. The mayor believes it’s worth a try. Fort Smith park officials are happy with the Carol Ann Cross arrangement and have made a little money from it.

Van Buren also has a much bigger park. Carol Ann Cross Park is only 27 acres, while Van Buren’s park is 135. The Van Buren Boys and Girls Club is next to Lake Cap Bedell, and just beyond that is the city’s swimming pool, and adjacent to the pool is a golf course. The traffic is already in place and Steffy thinks the paddle boats are a natural fit.

The man named Noah has his boats. He has a plan to get them in the water. But right now, all he can do is wait. Not on 40 days and 40 nights of rain, but a simple revision to a city ordinance.