Flotilla headed to Barling, Fort Smith

story by Aric Mitchell
[email protected]

The “Arkansas River Revival,” hosted by non-profit Arkansas River Connections in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is stopping at Springhill Park’s Lock and Dam 13 in Barling on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Executive Director of Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Maryl Koeth told The City Wire that Barling is one of nine communities that are included in the festivities held to recognize the 40th anniversary of the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System.

The flotilla began Oct. 20, traveling from Little Rock to Dumas, and turned around Saturday (Oct. 22) at Dumas to travel to Fort Smith. Link here for the flotilla schedule.

“The Arkansas River is an untapped resource for economic development in the state. And what better way to deliver that message to all these communities than with boats?” Koeth said.

The 10-day flotilla event features a floating procession of private yachts, houseboats and cruisers from around the state with an estimate of 15-20 showing up for the Oct. 26 date, all visible from both Springhill and Fort Smith Parks. Special events will be exclusive to Springhill.

Koeth called the flotilla “a boat ride with lots of benefits,” citing it is a way “to highlight and promote the economic importance of the Arkansas River for job creation, increased barge traffic, and tourism development.”

The one-day stop will include guided tours of Lock and Dam 13 as well as displays by Arkansas Game and Fish and the Crawford County Emergency Management Search and Rescue team.

Game and Fish employees will display a 1,000-gallon aquarium giving attendees a snapshot of the Arkansas River’s wild life. An interpreter will be on hand to educate audience members about each species. Crawford County Emergency Management Search and Rescue will show off their mobile command unit and swift water rescue equipment.

For lock tours, the general public and school groups must call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ahead of time at (479) 968-5008, ext. 0, for available times and dates. Koeth said the tours will require a photo ID for anyone 16 years of age or older. School-aged children are limited to the fourth grade and up. Each tour will last for approximately 45 minutes and be divided into groups of 15.

“I really do encourage people to take the Lock tours. To see these boats come into our area, you really get a sense of the river’s potential as a recreation and tourism commodity,” Koeth said. “We want people to see the River as more than just a strip of water they drive across when they go over the bridge. We want them to see it as a means of helping our communities strive and prosper.”

Koeth noted that between 10%-20% of f river traffic is for recreational purposes. The flotilla event hopes to change that. “Communities like Barling and Fort Smith can benefit from the River and use it to create all kinds of hospitality and retail jobs, while also tying it in with existing tourist attractions,” Koeth said.

Koeth noted that due to space limitations the boat rides could not be open to everyone, but that Arkansas River Connections was “really encouraging some of our leaders to ride on the boats to get a sense of what the Arkansas River can be.”

The float will occur as part of Leg 7 of the trip. A Leg 7 schedule follows:

7:30 a.m. — Boat riders/participants to be aboard vessels
8 a.m. — Leave Ozark, cruise 35 miles
11:30-12:50 p.m. —  Arrive/Exit Lock 13, Cruise 11 miles
2 p.m. —  Arrive at Fort Smith Riverfront Park
5 p.m. —  Reception at Drennen Scott House (Private event)
7:30 p.m. —  Dinner at Fort Smith Riverfront Pavilion (Private event)