Wednesday, November 28, 2012
SPRINGDALE — The city will soon own more parkland, with new parks to follow.
The City Council, in its meeting Tuesday, approved the purchase of new parkland in the southeast and northwest corners of the city. The purchase will be made with money from a $71 million bond issue approved by Springdale voters in August.
The bonds, which will be paid off by an existing city tax, included $17 million for the purchase of parkland and the development into new parks.
“We’ll probably close in the first or second week in December,” said Wyman Morgan, city director of administration and financial services. “We should be ready to cut a check, not this Friday, but the one after.”
Springdale City Council
Actions On Items From The Agenda:
-Approved rezoning of 5.9 acres at 1301 E. Robinson Ave. owned by Mathias Shopping Centers from general commercial to thoroughfare commercial
-Approved condemnation of property located one-third of a mile east of the intersection of 56th Street and Dearing Road owned by Valley Harvest Ministries for $468,000
-Approved an agreement with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission for a wayfinding program at an estimated cost of the city of $196,400
-Approved reimburse street light costs for the Serenity Subdivision
-Approved the purchase of a hazardous materials vehicle for $76,174
-Approved a contract for driveway aprons and curb and guttering on Hylton Road for $32,042
-Approved spending $5,000 as a share of the cost to restore a bank of Spring Creek
-Approved contracts for the design of street improvements with USI Consulting Engineers and Engineering Services.
Source: Staff Report
One parcel is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hylton and Hutton Roads. Don Tyson Parkway ends on the opposite side of the intersection.
The 74.8-acre parcel, owned by Legacy Bank, will cost $19,400 per acre for a cost of $1.45 million. Plans call for this park to be completely developed, said Mayor Doug Sprouse.
The other 121.6-acre parcel, owned by Arvest Bank, is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Ball and East Downum roads. Total cost, at $11,000 per acre, will be $1.34 million.
This park will be developed as much as money remaining allows, after the purchase and development of the other park. Some money may be spend on updates to current parks.
The bond sale will close on Thursday, Morgan said, with the city receiving its money after the closing.
The council also approved hiring Engineering Services Inc. for design of the parks. The cost would be 8 percent of construction costs for design and 4 percent for oversight of construction.
Key members of the city Parks and Recreation staff will meet with Engineering Services next Wednesday, said Rick McWhorter, Parks director.
“We’ll let them know some of our biggest needs,” McWhorter said. “Then we’ll let them get on with the design.”
The input from the Parks staff and from the public input session will be incorporated into the design, said Brian Moore, Engineering Services vice president. The company made a preliminary layout of the park land before it was purchase to see if it would meet the city’s needs, he said.