Commissioner Fergie Stewart enthusiastically presented his idea for a Friends of Eureka Springs Parks volunteer group at the July 26 Parks Commission meeting. He called the idea “a program to enhance the parks.”
He envisioned Friends of the Parks to be a membership arrangement with a fee to join. In return for the membership fee, the Friend would get discounts at certain stores or maybe camping for free. Friends would contribute a certain number of hours per month in the spring gardens or on trail maintenance, for example. He suggested the program be coordinated by Office Manager Dove Bolerjack.
Parks Director Justin Huss said he was one hundred percent behind the concept except the part about the office manager, saying somebody else would need to be volunteer coordinator.
Commissioner Steven Foster said he has seen Friends organizations like Stewart suggested coordinate and schedule with a commission, but act independently. Chair Bill Featherstone mentioned there is a group like that at Hobbs State Park and in parks all over.
Huss reiterated that regardless of everyone’s good intentions, there must be someone in charge. Featherstone commented a unit of determined volunteers guided by an organized ringleader might inject some enthusiasm into the parks, and with so much property to care for, a volunteer would certainly find a favorite niche somewhere.
The idea will remain on the agenda.
Director’s report
Huss presented a brief state of the parks:
- Repair of his office floor is on hold until a there is a lull in other activities.
- Nevertheless, the office finally has “a modern phone service,” and Bolerjack added she and Huss now can both be on the Internet at the same time.
- Compliments rolled in for work done by gardener Tom Beckindorff.
- CC Riders continue their work creating trails on “some amazing terrain” near Black Bass Lake.
- The recent Fat Tire Festival was the biggest ever, Huss said, and next year will be the 20th Anniversary, for which planning will begin soon. Many who attended the event also came to town, and he expects there will be other festival-type activities such as a water slide, live music and a beer garden.
- The Parks fireworks show went off as planned, sort of, during a break between the rainstorms. Featherstone noted the lightning display in the background was “pretty cool.” Huss said they learned there was interest in having the event, but Parks must decide what to do about July 4 falling on Wednesday next year. If Parks does put on fireworks next summer, when do they shoot them off?
- Two pedal boats might need to be mothballed and replaced.
- Lake Leatherwood City Park revenue for June was up nearly $4000 over June 2016. Huss said there is a reasonable chance LLCP revenue this year will double the revenue of 2015.
- He is considering adding vending machines at LLCP for lake night purchases by overnight guests.
Chairman’s comments
Featherstone delivered the Parable of the Servant as his commentary, mentioning voters approved the one-eighth-cent Lake Leatherwood sales tax again, and Parks is thankful for the acknowledgement. However, with the support comes the obligation, and Parks must rethink its action plan going forward.
He said Parks will focus on the best use of the funds at workshops, hold a town hall meeting to hear ideas for citizens about LLCP, and re-energize the Lake Leatherwood committee because, he said, “the dirty work is always in the committees.”
Other items
- Commissioner Ruth Hager said she would work with Stewart and other stakeholders, including the Preservation Society, to determine what should happen next with the Spanish-American War memorial rock and plaque.
- Foster said the Springs Committee has turned its focus to educational outreach in conjunction with the Arkansas Master Naturalists, and will tour the Low Impact Development measures being implemented at an East Mountain development.
- Commissioners penciled in a town meeting on Lake Leatherwood in late October or early November.
Next workshop will be Tuesday, August 1, at 6 p.m., at Harmon Park, and next regular meeting will be Tuesday, August 15, at 6 p.m. The Springs Committee will meet Wednesday, August 2, at 4:30 p.m., at Harmon Park, and the Lake Leatherwood Committee will meet Wednesday, August 9, at 5:30 p.m., at the playground at LLCP.