Ice Rink To Be Named After Former Mayor

By Vernon Tarver

Posted: November 27, 2009 at 4:48 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — Several names were thrown around when the topic of naming the still yet-to-be built downtown ice rink and fountain plaza came up. Only one, though, seemed to make sense.

The project, which will be an ice rink in winter and a fountain plaza in warmer months, will be named for Ernest G. “Ernie” Lawrence Jr., Bentonville’s mayor from 1971 to 1974. Lawrence was instrumental in many civic projects, including the opening of Dave Peel Park in 1976.

“A lot of people were having conversations about what to name the (ice rink) park and they thought about calling it Heritage Park,” longtime city council member Mary Baggett said. “John Shores, a local businessman who is now retired, asked me about two months ago why we didn’t name anything after Ernie Lawrence.”

Baggett mentioned the idea to Alderman Chris Sooter.

“I told him, ‘Why don’t we name that park after Ernie Lawrence?’ He thought that was a good idea, so we just went to work on it,” she said

Baggett was on the council during Lawrence’s tenure as mayor and said he was vital to helping Bentonville look toward the future.

Lawrence brought to the office of mayor “new ideas that were foreign to us local folks,” Baggett said, including the need for trash pickup.

“I learned the importance of that. I just had a whole new respect for Ernie,” Baggett said.

Lawrence practiced law in Bentonville for more than 30 years until his death in 2002. He also served on the Bentonville School Board from 1975 to 1986, including time as board president.

“He was such a leader and he started so many important things in our city,” said Harryetta Bailey, a former council member who served on Bentonville’s first Parks Committee, which was formed by Lawrence. “There were just so many things Ernie did, and he was a wonderful man.”

The Parks Committee approved name at a Nov. 16 meeting, said Parks Manager David Wright. Wright said naming the parks project in Lawrence’s memory seemed a good idea after hearing stories of Lawrence’s dedication to the community.

An example of the dedication was Lawrence’s leadership to establish Dave Peel Park, Wright said.

“The Post Office was going to buy what is now Dave Peel Park and build a Post Office there,” Wright said. “The community came out at the time and said they really wanted to keep a park there, and Ernie Lawrence led the charge. He used his law firm and ... they went to work to save the park.

“Now that happened in 1976 and I was only 2 years old in 1976. But here I am 35 years old and I’m still able to enjoy something Ernie did some 33 years ago. Just think of the number of people who have benefited from the actions he took,” Wright said.

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