COMMUNITY BUILDING: Parks Continue Transition

OFFICIALS PLANNING SEVERAL NEW RECREATIONAL PROJECTS

By Jeff Mores

Posted: November 23, 2009 at 4:11 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — The face of the vacated Bentonville Fire Station 1 looks difterent these days.

A number of exterior panels have been torn oft for asbestos removal, said David Wright, Bentonville parks manager. The original plan was to attempt to renovate the Southwest “A” Street structure into a downtown activity center. Those plans were scratched because of a number of issues, including bad insulation, faulty electrical wiring and the lack of a fire sprinkler system.

The facility will still happen, however.

City offcials plan to remove the old firehouse and build an 8,000-square-foot activity center in its place using approximately $1 million from a voter-approved bond issue.

The city also plans a full-scale community recreation center for the southwest quadrant of town.

“We’ve gotten very, very progressive with our parks,” said Todd Franke, chairman of the Bentonville Parks and Recreation Board. “And this isn’t just the city coming up with ideas. The community is asking for these kinds of amenities. There is leadership in Bentonville, from the mayor, the city council and staft to work hard to continue making these improvements and adding to the quality of life here.”

The city restructured its parks and recreation operation last year. The maintenance division has always existed and includes mowing and other upkeep work. The new part of the department focuses on building new amenities, implementation of new programs and more.

An example of the work the department’s new division does is a sand volleyball park at the recently renovated Memorial Park — the city’s signature active recreation park.

That facility hosted a regional volleyball tournament for adults over the summer, and plans call for the city to host adult and youth volleyball leagues.

The community center planned for southwest Bentonville will likely be several basketball courts, which will allow organization of adult basketball leagues. There’s also been discussion of erecting a softball complex, possibly on the acreage near the community center site.

“We want to focus on providing the citizens of Bentonville with a full range of parks-related activities,” Mayor Bob McCaslin said. “The realignment gives proper respect to the fact that the aesthetic and groundskeeping activities are also critical to a successful parks operation. In the past, this truly was a maintenance department. We believe it must become more than that.”

Another example of an amenity Bentonville is investing in is construction of Orchards Park, described as a passive recreation park, at Northeast “J” Street and John DeShields Boulevard. Orchards Park will be located directly across from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and at an entrance of Memorial Park. It is intended to become a centerpiece of the community. The park will include walking trails with an emphasis on landscaping with multiple fl ower beds, a rose garden, trees and a large pond and fountain.

Wright envisions the park as a hot spot for wedding photos, family events and a gathering spot for those coming to town before and after visiting Crystal Bridges.

The community building that will replace the old fire station will provide offces for parks staft , several community meeting and event rooms and a place for residents to register recreation programs.

“This particular building will offer opportunities for seniors, kids, adults,” Wright said. “In due time, I really see some summer camp programs being based out of here. We’ll have an area for people to pick up bikes if they want to hop on the trail system.”

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