ROGERS — When the concept plans for the Lake Atalanta renovation project were unveiled last week the majority of those attending the two public meetings were excited and pleased with the plans, but some residents expressed serious concern for the park’s ecosystem.

A group of 12 individuals presented city officials with a four-page statement urging them to halt the project because additional biological studies were necessary to preserve the natural state of the lake. The statement also called for the establishment of an advisory group of 12 area residents to help with the planning process in order to provide expertise and give more residents the opportunity to weigh in on the plans.

“Others attending the public meetings did come with a prepared statement, but everyone had the opportunity to make suggestions and express concerns,” Mayor Greg Hines said. “We made a list of the suggestions and concerns and there will be an opportunity after the first of the year for the public to review and make additional comments on the plans and the suggestions.”

“The statement from the group will be given the same consideration as the comments received during the public meetings,” Hines added.

The $15 million renovation plan has been in the works for more than two years. The plan presented isn’t the final plan, city officials said during the public meetings, but a concept of what might be included in the renovation.

Money for the renovation is coming through sources with $5 million coming from the extension of a 1 percent sales tax election approved by residents in 2011. Additional money will come from city reserves and a $3.8 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation. The renovation project will be built in phases and likely will take two to three years to complete, city officials said

The signers of the statement said they were concerned part of the proposed plan might damage the balance of the ecosystem in and around the lake.

“We are not against the renovation project. We are glad the city is willing to undertake such a project. We would like city officials to slow the process down so residents could have more time to review and offer suggestions,” said Tom McClure, one of the signers of the statement.

“There will be additional public meeting as we continue to flesh out the renovation plans,” Hines said.

“The plan we presented last week is the overall plan. As we continue to develop the plans for different sections, such as the trails, boardwalks and picnic areas of the park, the public will have the opportunity to review and make suggestions,” Hines said during the City Council meeting last week.

“In our statement we said the first question that should be asked is ‘What is it that the park is already providing for us that we don’t want to lose?’” McClure added.

The signers of the statement, in addition to the advisory group, have six other major concerns:

Trails in the park;

Fisheries;

Natural areas and karst ecology/springs;

Culture and historic sites/education;

Lake management;

No work in the park should begin until the city renovation committee and the advisory group has completed the public participation phase; finished the plan and gained the approval of the City Council.

McClure said he would like for the two springs that feed the lake to be protected and left unaltered. He also is against creating a pond where the streams from the springs meet and stocking the pond with trout.

A pond stocked with trout is one of the concepts in the plan.

“I support fishing in the lake, but it should be stocked with native fish not trout,” McClure said. “Lake Atalanta Park should be a multiuse park, but we have to be careful that the ecosystem is not damaged in the process.”

John Mack, another signatory of the document, said the public meetings and the city staff gave him a better understanding of the renovation plan.

“After I talked to Steve Glass for more than an hour Tuesday I feel a lot better about the plan,” Mack said. “I would like for the Gateway people, who are designing the development plan for downtown, to understand the importance of the Lake Atalanta renovation in relationship to downtown.”

Gateway Planning, a Dallas firm, has been selected to design a development plan for downtown that will include economic development aspects as well as suggestions for zoning and other issues in regards to improving downtown, making it more livable and viable.

“The renovation of the lake, the downtown development and the AMP (Arkansas Music Pavilion) moving to Rogers are all part of Rogers’ continuing development of the city as a destination and a great place to live and work,” Mack said.

Joan Reynolds, a master naturalist, said she has deep concerns that some of the proposed improvements will damage the park ecosystem.

“Lake Atalanta is not like anything else in Northwest Arkansas. It is a unique area,” Reynolds said. “My goal is to have the correct balance between protecting the plants, animals and other natural areas of the park with other uses so more people can enjoy the park.”

She said she also is concerned the residents are not being heard and their ideas are not being considered by city officials.

She said she is worried that without local experts to help with the planning the springs, animal life and natural aspects of the park might be in danger.

“I feel like some people think we are against the renovation, but we aren’t. We want to work with the city with the planning of the project. We’re excited about the city taking an interest in the park,” Reynolds said.

Ellen Turner, a biology instructor at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, said her focus for the project is education. Turner also signed the statement.

“I’ve used the park for field trips for years, it’s a great way to teach science,” she said. “I know the city and those of us interested in keeping the park as natural as possible have to compromise. I would like to put interpretative signs on trails about the trees, flowers and other plants as an educational tool. We want people involved in the planning that might have a different vision or see things the city planners don’t see. We want to see this project done, but we would like to see it done the right way so the ecological balance in the park is maintained.”