The Eureka Springs Parks Commission July 19 meeting was comprised mostly of director Justin Huss’s list of recent activities, providing a snapshot of what happens for Parks staff during a month:
- Huss said the Parks’ site on East Mountain was vandalized again but would be refinished soon, and he is working to get the camera there functioning. He also announced that gardener Summer Sherrod resigned, and said he will cast a wider net to attract the next gardener.
- The Crescent Hotel asked about renting Harmon Park for a five-hour event in August, so Huss said he is working to come up with a fair rate.
- He reported that arrival of a new four-person pedal boat is imminent, adding that the refurbished fleet of rental boats have become a steady revenue generator.
- Lake Leatherwood needs work, Huss said, as in some areas silting is obstructing adequate water flow resulting in too much flora.
- The Fat Tire Festival went well, and Huss said he was impressed with the crowd. He mentioned that he found participants and spectators active, involved, responsible and good stewards of the land.
Huss said he is planning for the November World Summit of the International Mountain Bicycling Association in Bentonville. He said he has been having weekly meetings with the mayor’s office, the Chamber of Commerce and the City Advertising and Promotion Commission in preparation for having a strong presence at the meeting. He said the CAPC agreed to support the effort with $10,500, which was just more than half of what he had asked for. Nevertheless, he sees the summit as an important opportunity for Eureka Springs to continue establishing itself among mountain bike riders.
Pollination proliferation conversation
Commissioner Steven Foster announced that on June 23 Mayor Butch Berry proclaimed Eureka Springs a Bee City USA during a celebration in Basin Park. Foster said Eureka Springs is the first Bee City in Arkansas and only the 17th nationwide.
Foster said the purpose of the Pollinator Alliance is to educate the public about the importance of pollinators like bees and butterflies and which flowers and plants attract pollinators.
Other items
- Commissioners reallocated funds from one line to another so Huss can attend the National Recreation and Parks Association annual conference in St. Louis in October.
- There is a vacant seat on Parks because former commissioner Barry Reed moved away.
Next workshop will be Tuesday, August 2, at 6 p.m., at Harmon Park, and the next regular meeting will be Tuesday, August 16, at 6 p.m.