Bentonville Parks Director Reports 2013, Previews 2014

BENTONVILLE -- From a planning standpoint, 2014 will be the most important year for the Parks and Recreation Department, director David Wright told the City Council this week.

Wright gave the department's 2013 report to council members Tuesday. The report was approved by the department's advisory board in February. Wright also discussed focus points for 2014.

By The Numbers (w/logo)

Bentonville Parks, Recreation

In 2013, Bentonville’s Parks and Recreation Department:

• Had Revenue of $834,411, a 12.6 percent increase from 2012

• Received 45,683 hours of volunteer labor

• Spent $215,00 for new restroom and concession building at Elm Tree Ball Fields

• Added five camps

• Added a 1,100-foot trail to the Downtown Trail System

• Had 162,369 participants through out all programs, an increase from 112,127 in 2012

Source: Parks and Recreation 2013 Report

Wright and his staff oversee three facilities -- the Downtown Activity Center, Lawrence Plaza and Melvin Ford Aquatic Center -- along with 18 parks and 12 trails.

The department will offer 44 programs this year, but is a year away from offering 200 after the Community Recreation Center opens, Wright said. Revenue is anticipated to increase from about $835,000 to about $2.8 million.

Officials broke ground on the center in November. It's south of the intersection of Southwest I Street and Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard.

The department is seeing 100 percent cost recovery in the programs it offers now, Wright said. Planning is crucial in developing a financially sustainable operation, he said.

"We've got to make sure that as we move into a new 80,000-square-foot facility that we remain at 100 (percent) cost recovery," Wright said.

It's not the building's first year in operation that concerns Wright, but its seventh year when it's not as new.

Wright also reported highlights from 2013.

Last year saw 162,369 participants in parks and recreational activities, an increase from 64,748 in 2011.

Those numbers are just for organized activities. They don't include people who used parks and facilities for other events, Wright said.

The aquatic center saw 59,734 visitors, according to the report. It was the largest attendance in the facility's history, Wright said.

Wright also praised volunteers who donated 46,220 hours last year. That translates into 22 staff members and more than $1 million, he said.

"Even those who don't volunteer take very good care of the parks," he said. "As proud as I am for our team, I'm just as proud of our citizens for taking ownership of our parks."

The department implemented park safety standards last year. Each piece of playground equipment is tested by staff at least once a week, Wright said. If a problem is discovered, it's fixed within 24 hours or taken "off line immediately."

There were 55 work orders the first week equipment was checked, he said.

Wright and his department were commended by council members Roger Thomas and Mary Baggett.

"Everyone up here could go on and on about our parks and recreation facilities, so terrific job," Thomas said.

Baggett spoke about when she drove past Memorial Park on a Saturday morning.

"It was amazing to me that every field was full of kids and families," she said. "I thought what a great thing in a community like ours that our children are not sitting in front of TVs, but they're out enjoying the beauty of our world and getting exercise. I'm just so thankful for all this going on in our Parks Department."

NW News on 03/29/2014

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