Executive Director Sam Dudley started the May 21 Parks and Recreation meeting telling commissioners that the Basin Park improvements have been completed with the installation of the final park benches. The older, metal benches will be “unbent and repainted” and installed on the bluff so they can continue to be used.
Dudley said that a ceremony on May 23 would thank everyone who helped fund the renovations including the CAPC, the HDC, the Preservation Society, and more. Referring to installation of map kiosks, two have been completed at Harmon Park and Crescent Spring, and there are three more he hopes to have installed in the next month or two at Sweet Spring and Basin Park and the Music Park.\
Dudley shared that the mural on the bathroom has been completed, which was funded by the Arts Council. He said they had finished the subfloor of the bathroom in the workshop building and will move on to electrical and sheet rock work. Dudley also informed the committee that the lawnmower was broken.
At Lake Leatherwood, rentals from the cabins and bait-shop sales have allowed Parks to meet 40 to 50 percent of income needs for the year. Dudley said that they will be hiring park attendants for part time seasonal positions, and that the current housekeeper now qualifies as a full-time employee.
He added that planning for Jamboreeka is moving forward, and he had received several food truck permit applications.
New commissioner Aaron Borey, who runs Beyond the Yonder, introduced himself, and commissioners were told that Ruth Goodwin-Hager was nominated for a Civic Star Award.
Talk then moved to the new field use permits, which Dudley structured off Bentonville Parks policies based on Chair Mark Ingram’s recommendation. A set fee will be charged to reserve the sports fields with an additional charge if people need lights.
Maximum allotted time allowed to reserve a field is four hours per day reserved. Commissioners approved the form and policy pending review by city attorney Forrest Jacobi to make sure everything is legal.
During commission comments, Mark Ingram addressed complaints and fears, mainly stemming from a confrontation at the previous week’s workshop. He wanted to make the public aware that the Parks commission has a budget that covers eight employees who maintain roughly 2000 acres that include historic parks, an old dam, and springs. Often to make other improvements, Parks partners with other commissions to boost their “shoestring” budget.
Ingram said that he wanted to get the most benefit for the most people, with much of the tax dollars coming from tourists who use the parks, not just locals, stressing that property taxes do not pay for all of the Parks’ needs. He asked that the public not just post complaints on Facebook, he would rather people call Parks (479) 253-2866 or contact commissioners with concerns.