Waterpark lease deal approved by Sebastian County Quorum Court

The Sebastian County Quorum Court voted Tuesday (Aug. 21) for an ordinance that gives the county judge authority to complete a Parrot Island Waterpark lease agreement with the City of Fort Smith. The agreement would give the city control of the waterpark for $1 a year.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday tabled a decision on whether to accept such a lease, and will reconsider the item on Sept. 3.

Opened in 2015, the waterpark in Ben Geren Regional Park features the area’s only two-lane FlowRider and wave pool. It also has four twisting and turning water slides, a lazy river, activity pool and themed children’s aquatic play area, the park’s website states. Sebastian County and the city have had a joint venture agreement with the waterpark and have since 2015 shared the capital costs for the facility.

“We love the waterpark and completely support the waterpark. We just don’t have the ability to invest in it and move forward with expansion like Fort Smith seems to be able to do,” County Judge Steve Hotz said.

The idea of leasing the waterpark to the city came after the Fort Smith Board on July 9 approved spending $2.1 million for its part of a park expansion with the hope that Sebastian County would do the same. The $4.2 million expansion would add five slides – a connected slide complex that includes two tube slides, two mat racers and one body slide. The Sebastian County Quorum Court voted against the expenditure at its regular board meeting July 16 and again at a special meeting July 25.

“This (lease) would allow them (the city) to move forward with the slide expansion, if they choose to do so,” Hotz said.

The lease agreement would also make the city solely responsible for the operation and maintenance of the park. The city would be responsible for all costs associated with operations, maintenance and improvements of the park and will be entitled to take “any and all actions it deems prudent or necessary, without notice to or approval of the County, relative to the operations, maintenance and improvements” of the park, the lease states.

The lease requires the county to make property available for the construction of parking facilities for the operation of the waterpark upon notice by the city. If amenities are added or enhancements are made to the park’s footprint, the ownership percentage of the city shall increase proportionately and the county’s percentage shall proportionately reduce, according to the lease.

“The city will be responsible for all the costs of managing the waterpark. If they agree, they will get the profits, but they will also have the expenses,” Hotz said.