Lake Atalanta Renovation Plan In Rogers On Hold

ROGERS -- Dredging vLake Atalanta may not happen until next year, city officials said.

"We thought the lake would be dredged this year, but a number of factors has slowed the process considerably," said Lance Jobe, city engineer.

At A Glance

Lake Atalanta Project

Lake Atalanta’s renovation and the expansion of the park to other properties is expected to cost $15 million. Improvements include:

• Dredging the lake back to its original depth.

• A concrete trail and a soft trail around the lake.

• A children’s playground that blends with nature.

• A boardwalk on the east side of the lake

• Additional picnic tables.

• Removal of a basketball goal.

Source: Staff Report

The city applied this spring to the Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to dredge the lake and other water-related projects. Corps representatives couldn't decide whether the city needed a single permit or separate permits, one for dredging and one for changes to the stream running into lake, city officials said.

"The corps finally decided we only needed one permit, but there was still a problem. Corps officials wanted a detailed plan of all aspects of the renovation project in and around the lake," Jobe said.

"We just hired EDG consulting engineers to do the final design on the amenities around the lake. The company is in the early stages of design work. We will likely have a preliminary plan within the next few weeks. We may call the corps to see if they will accept the preliminary plan. If the corps says it wants the final plan that will take a while longer," Jobe said.

It normally takes from three to six months to get permits, but it could take longer depending on the scale of a project, said P.J. Spaul, corps spokesman.

"We will need a complete application for a permit and the plans before the corps can make a determination on the dredging project," Spaul said.

"All of these thing take time. There is no way to hurry the system," Jobe said.

The dredging delay will also hold construction of the boardwalk on the east side of the lake and improvement to Walnut Street, Jobe said.

"We will separate the overall plan into phases and do what we can while we wait for approval from the Corps of Engineers," he said.

At least one resident interested in the renovation project at the lake is unhappy about the delay.

"Frankly, I'm very disappointed," said Dell Tyson, a member of the Lake Atalanta committee.

"It looks like nothing is happening at the lake or the lake park. There is work being done on the trails on the Philpot and Fleming properties and the bike park, but nothing is happening at the lake. The lake and park surround the lake is what most of the longtime residents care about," Tyson said.

The Philpot and Fleming properties are south of Lake Atalanta, and will include amenities such a bike park and trails.

"I wonder if I'll live long enough to see the renovation project finished at this rate. I'm no spring chicken," Tyson said with a sigh.

NW News on 08/23/2014

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