$2.68 million plan to install Parrot Island slides approved

The Fort Smith Board of Directors have again voted to proceed with funding of 5 new water slides at Parrot Island Waterpark. Tuesday’s (Jan. 20) vote followed almost 2 hours of citizen input and board discussion that at times was personal and contentious.

The package approved Tuesday in a 4-3 vote was a $2.689 million plan that includes partially using a general fund reserve balance. The funding would cover installation costs that grew beyond the initial budget.

The board initially voted to spend $2.1 million on the slides and installation, with Sebastian County expected to also spend $2.1 million. The Sebastian County Quorum Court would during two separate meetings vote against the deal. The city and county jointly own the waterpark. The Fort Smith board would in September 2024 vote for picking up the other $2.1 million and continue with purchase and installation of the slides.

It was learned in October 2025 that the cost to install the five slides would push beyond the $4.2 million approved for the project.

Specifics of the plan, as noted in a memo from Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, would pull $1.274 million from the city’s general fund reserve, use $760,000 from interest earnings on accumulated sales tax revenue dedicated to parks and recreation capital projects, and $655,000 from unspent funds already approved for the water slides.

That total, $2.689 million, would pay for the following:
• $1.059 million for water slide installation by Fort Smith-based Royal Ridge Construction;
• $680,000 for related pump house and electrical work;
• $600,000 estimated for related pool equipment and piping; and,
• $350,000 estimated for landscaping, fencing, sidewalks, etc.

Voting for the plan were Directors André Good, Lee Kemp, Jared Rego, and Kevin Settle. Voting against the funding plan were Directors Christina Catsavis, George Catsavis, and Neal Martin.

Before the board discussion and vote, there were 10 speakers from the audience who spoke, with all against the proposed water slide installation spending plan. The speakers collectively alleged misuse of funds, not having competitive bids, other more important budget issues, and lack of certainty over future costs.

Director Martin made a motion to pull the $1.274 million from the city’s parks and recreation capital budget instead of the general fund reserve. That motion would fail in a 6-1 vote.

Director Christina Catsavis said the city should require the company who sold the slides to buy them back, alleging they were not upfront about the true cost of installation. She also said the city could better spend $1.274 million on fire and police department equipment, sidewalks, and other more immediate necessities.

Director Settle gave an emotional address about why he supports the funding, saying it provides recreational and job opportunities for many in the region. He said his support “is a fight for families and kids” to have those opportunities.

“I look forward to Parrot Island transforming into a world-class destination,” he said.

Mayor George McGill responded to requests to veto the vote by saying funding decisions are a function of the board and he would respect their vote.

After the vote, Dingman told Talk Business & Politics that contracts and due diligence with Royal Ridge and other companies could be completed within 30 days, and construction could begin soon after. He said the five new slides may not be operational when the park opens for the summer season, but they could be operational before the summer season ends.

If completed, the slide addition will be the third major upgrade since 2019. The park added that year a Flowrider two-lane surf system at a cost of $1.282 million. In 2021, the park added the green single/double rider tube slide and tower at a cost of $1.088 million. Costs in the 2019 and 2021 expansions were split evenly by the city and Sebastian County.

The waterpark was opened in 2015 at Ben Geren Regional Park, which is owned by Sebastian County. Its initial construction cost was shared jointly by the county and the city. Grand Prairie, Texas-based American Resort Management (ARM) has managed the waterpark since it opened in 2015.