Parrot Island Waterpark control decision pushed to study session review

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Dec. 16) voted to not consider two agenda items related to management of the Parrot Island Waterpark. The items are to be placed on the board’s next study session in January.

Pushing back on one of the resolutions, which would move full operational control of the waterpark to the city of Fort Smith, is somewhat in limbo because it may require action by the Sebastian County Quorum Court to extend a deadline for the city to act.

The waterpark was opened in 2015 at Ben Geren Regional Park, which is owned by the county, and its initial construction 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.

Sebastian County officials recently pushed to move control of the waterpark to the city after the city moved forward with what became a controversial purchase of five water slides. Acquiring the slides was approved by the Fort Smith board in July 2024, but was rejected by the Sebastian County Quorum Court. Each party would pay $2.1 million, but the Fort Smith board approved the full $4.2 million when county officials declined to participate.

But the cost would balloon for the city.

The water slides that initially were to cost the city $4.2 million for acquisition and installation could now cost more than $6.3 million. Acting Fort Smith City Administrator Jeff Dingman told the board Oct. 21 that the low bid to install the slides was $2.8 million, which would push the total cost to acquire, assemble, and install the slides to around $6.35 million, well beyond the board-approved budget of $4.2 million. The city, according to Dingman, has already spent $3.55 million to acquire the slides and to prep them for installation.

It remains uncertain what will happen with the water slides. City staff has been encouraged by the board to come up with options. Directors Christina Catsavis and George Catsavis have called for the slides to be sold to recover as much of the $3.55 million as possible.

Prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz told Talk Business & Politics that the quorum court’s resolution allowing the city to take operational control has a Dec. 31 deadline. Pushing city board consideration into January misses the deadline.

Hotz said after the board’s Tuesday vote that quorum court members “are certainly frustrated with this (proposed plan to have the city control the waterpark) because it’s dragged on for more than a year.” But he said it’s possible that the quorum court will still be open to the idea, but may wait until the city takes action before responding as a body.

The board on Tuesday also pushed to a study session a resolution extending the management agreement with ARM through 2026.