Parks department staff named to leadership team at War Memorial Stadium

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has appointed a new management team for War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The Arkansas Legislature voted this year to move War Memorial Stadium under the Parks and Tourism management. The stadium hosts sporting events, concerts and other activities. A feasibility study is currently underway to explore other options to expand the use of the venue, according to the department.

Ron Salley, former superintendent of Pinnacle Mountain State Park, is the new manager, and John Latch, former assistant superintendent of Mississippi River State Park, is assistant manager, according to the department.

“Ron Salley has a proven leadership record with managing one of Arkansas’s busiest parks for the past 13 years as superintendent of Pinnacle Mountain State Park, with an estimated 635,000 visitors each year,” Arkansas State Parks Director Grady Spann said in a press release. “With 34 years of experience at Arkansas State Parks, Ron has the ability to lead and manage WMS to a new level of customer service and to increase the use of WMS for Arkansas.”

Prior to overseeing Pinnacle Mountain park, Salley worked at Mount Nebo and White Oak Lake state parks, according to the press release.

“During my 13 years at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, a lot of people visited from different backgrounds,” Salley said in a statement. “Whether it’s family, extreme sports enthusiasts, or equestrians, every day we tried to do the very best we could to accommodate them for all of those different and diverse needs. I see this next chapter of my career at War Memorial Stadium as a continuation of that customer service.”

Assistant manager Latch previously worked at Lake Ouachita and Pinnacle Mountain state parks.

“John Latch has demonstrated effective leadership and the willingness to put in the hard work in order to make things happen,” Spann said in the statement. “He has an incredible ability to connect with our guests and employees. With four years of park service experience, he understands how to work with the public and to lead his team. I am excited to see the future of WMS with John as part of the leadership team.”