Rogers Lake Committee Seeks Park Amenities Designers

ROGERS -- Lake Atalanta renovation plans have been painted with a broad brush; now it's time to design the details of amenities and how they fit together, Lake Atalanta committee members said Friday.

"We know what we want in the 230 acres that comprise the lake and park area," said Steve Glass, committee member and city director of planning and transportation.

At A Glance

Lake Atalanta Project

Lake Atalanta park renovation is part of a plan to revitalize Rogers’ downtown area. City officials expect to spend between $15 million and $17 million on the two-year renovation project.

Planned park amenities include:

• Walking trails

• Bike trails

• Restroom facilities

• A boardwalk on the east side of the lake, with fishing piers

• Natural playground equipment

• A bike park, dog park and skate park

• A waterfall where two springs converge

• A boat rental facility, bait shop and golf cart rentals are being considered

Source: Staff Report

Committee members have a vision for the property, "now we need to request qualifications from engineering and architectural firms to design the trails, boardwalks, restroom facilities and the other amenities in the park," Glass said.

Advertising for qualifications should begin next week, Glass said.

Committee members agreed qualifications should be returned to the city no later than April 24.

"It shouldn't take more than a few days for a company to put together their qualifications," said David Hook, city facilities development manager.

Committee members said they would review the qualification documents and meet sometime between April 28 and May 2 to pick the top three firms.

"We could have the top three firms meet with the committee in early May," Glass said. "The committee can select which firm they think would do the best job, then make a recommendation to the City Council for approval as early as the May 13 council meeting."

"That's a bit of a push," said Hook. "If we can't make it by May 13 it won't matter if it's the second council meeting of the month on May 27."

Aldermen voted last week to close the road around the lake. Design work on amenities, which include a concrete trail around the lake, couldn't begin until a decision was made on whether to close the road, Glass said.

Strad Will, committee member, expressed concern about closing the road.

"As you know, I was against closing the road, but that doesn't matter now. My concern is signs. I think the city needs to put up some signs telling people the road is closed ahead and provide a place for cars to turn around before they get to Timber Trails. Signs warning the road ahead is closed would eliminate some of the problems that could happen when a driver reaches Timber Trails," Will said.

There was no discussion about Will's proposal.

Dredging the lake and some other projects, such as the bike park, could move ahead without waiting for the design of other park amenities, Glass said.

"We were very close to getting our dredging permit last week, but now the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants us to come to Little Rock for a conversation," Hook said.

Dredging the lake isn't the problem, it is other water- and stream-related issues in the park that's holding up the dredging permit, Hook said.

The corps is looking at potential creek shore problems on the Fleming property, at the south end of the park; the proposed waterfall where Diamond and Frisco springs converge; and shore stabilization at Lake Atalanta, city officials said.

Hook is scheduled to meet with corps officials April 14 to discuss the project.

NW News on 03/29/2014

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