Fort Smith Parks and Rec commission discusses priority projects

The Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Commission discussed a $46 million wishlist of projects for the next five years during at Tuesday (May 14) study session with the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

The top items on the desired projects for parks and greenways in the city from 2025-2029 as noted by the Parks Commission included completion of May Branch Greenway to the ACME brick yard, which all commissioners listed as their No. 1 goal; basketball and pickleball courts at John Bell Park; shade structures and electric at the Fort Smith Farmers Market area; planning completed for the ACME brick yard, which commissioners hoped to see by 2025; shading and structures at the Riverfront Bike and Skate Park; and pickleball courts at all other areas, said Sam Hanna, a parks commissioner.

Chris Rival, chairman of the Parks and Recreation commission, said while the commissioners have their priorities, they hope the Board of Directors will get citizen input before committing to a future capital improvement plan.

“We want to make sure that whatever project we propose, since it is taxpayer money, we want to make sure that it is based on citizen input and will affect as much of the community as possible,” Rival said.

FINISH WHAT IS STARTED
The commissioners also want to see the city finish projects that are started instead of throwing out new projects.

“We have a lot of projects right now in the pipeline, over $12 million budgeted this year for new projects. Before we get too far ahead, we need to take care to finish the ones that we are on board with right now,” Rival said.

Those include Maybranch Greenways, which was approved in March; finishing John Bell Park and revamping Creekmore Park.

The project approved March 26 was Phase 1A of the Maybranch Greenway, approximately 0.7 mile of 10 foot-wide concrete multipurpose greenway that will go from North Seventh Street to North P Street, then traveling through Martin Luther King Jr. Park and end at North Greenwood Avenue. The project, which is not to exceed $1.265 million, includes solar lighting, two bicycle repair stations, benches, trash receptacles, and mile marker signage along the greenway.

In March, the board approved a $5.997 million plan to renovate the pool, diving facility and bathhouse area at Creekmore Park. The work on the 75-year-old pool area also includes new amenities, such as a concession stand and a lifeguard break area. The work included demolition of the 75-year-old bathhouse and diving well dome, construction of a new bathhouse and diving well enclosure, addition of a party/meeting room, and a new lobby.

Renovation of the park this year also includes replacing deteriorating paths, a new toddler play area, a new train and a tunnel for it that doubles as a storage area.

“We’ll basically have a brand new park there,” Rival said. “We need to focus on making sure all of those are taken care of. We also need to make sure we are taking care of upkeep of the great facilities we already have.”

DIRECTOR INPUT
Directors also had priorities they want to see addressed. Director Neal Martin said a dog park is imperative.

“There has been a lot of frustration from citizens about not having a dog park since it was taken away due to the (airport) runway extension. (We need) one that is large enough to have big dogs around,” Martin said.

He also said he would like to see swings incorporated into new playground designs when old playgrounds are revamped.

“When we tear out the old play equipment, we are tearing out swings, and we are not replacing swings. There need to be things children 7-12 enjoy, and, shoot, even adults would like to have some swings,” Martin said.

Director Lavon Morton said he would like to see the city plant low-maintenance trees on the west side of all the playground equipment if there aren’t already trees there for afternoon shade. Rival said directors mentioned things that the commission has also been told.

“Shade and swings, those are what people are saying,” he said, adding that swings were added to the playground renovation plan at Carol Ann Cross Park.

“As for a dog park, that is a priority we are hearing too. The biggest holdback has been the location,” Rival said.

Sara Deuster, director of parks and recreation, said the wishlist for capital projects presented, which would cost in total $46.05 million, are all projects that have not yet been started. Morton said that would be about 10 years of sales tax money that is earmarked specifically for parks and recreation projects in the city.

“Grants are what we need if we are going to do these projects,” Morton said.