Jones Center Officials Considering Outdoor Renovations

SPRINGDALE — Officials of The Jones Center are considering improving facilities on the outside after running out of gymnasium inside space.

Officials have drawn plans for a cover over four outdoor basketball courts to be used by center program participants and visitors. With the cover, the courts could be used most days from March through November, said Ed Clifford, chief executive officer.

“When we added programs that used the gym, we noticed the use of the outside courts increased,” Clifford said. “We only have one court and there is not much room for pickup games any more.”

The improved basketball courts would make space available to recreational players and for summer programs at the center, Clifford said.

The estimated cost of the cover, which would include a storage room, lights and water fountains, is $475,000, said Mike Gilbert, chief financial officer of the center.

The estimate was made deliberately high to make sure all costs would be covered, said Gilbert, who did the preliminary design work and estimate.

Clifford asked the City Council last week if the city could share in the cost of the cover. The courts are located in an area with volleyball courts, a playground and a pavilion.

“It’s used the same as a city park,” Clifford said. “We call it the community park.”

David Bowman visited the center Friday to see his son, a member of a Greenland school group that was playing basketball and skating on the ice rink.

“I live in Greenland and work in Springdale,” Bowman said. “My son was coming to The Jones Center as a school reward for making good grades.”

The Greenland students were visiting during one of the few slow times for the gym, said Michael Kirk, director of recreation for the center.

“During school hours, it’s hit and miss, but evenings and weekends are very busy,” Kirk said.

Alderman Eric Ford was not sure the city should spend money on private property. The center is a nonprofit organization open to everyone, Clifford said. There is a membership fee for using some of the facilities.

“We are not doing this to collect more money,” Clifford said.

Spending money on private property could also set a bad precedent, Ford said. Other nonprofit organizations could ask the city to pay for their projects, he said.

The legality of the city spending money at the center is not clear, said Ernest Cate, city attorney.

“Right now, I could argue both ways,” Cate said. “I’ll have to do some more research to see it there is a clearer answer.”

Center officials also plan to replace the ropes course with soccer fields that could also serve as practice areas for baseball and football, Gilbert said. Plans also call for the volleyball courts to be improved.

The Camp War Eagle after-school program could also use the outdoor facilities during much of the year, Gilbert said.

Center officials are planning to resurface the facility’s asphalt parking lots and driveways, Clifford said. That could cost $100,000, he said.

The city may also be approached about helping with that, Clifford said. The lots could double for city and center parking.

“We will be a trailhead for one of the city trails,” Clifford said. “We have bathrooms and a cafe. We think a lot of people will start here using the trails.”

The Jones Center has been a good partner with the city, said Mayor Doug Sprouse.

“I think we do need to look at all the projects we have going and see what that is going to cost before we make a decision on helping the center,” Sprouse said.

The city raised money for infrastructure programs by selling bonds in 2012. The street and fire programs could be running tight on money, Sprouse said.