Springdale's Parsons Stadium Expansion Plans Move Forward

SPRINGDALE -- Rodeo of the Ozarks officials are planning to expand Parsons Stadium to increase accessibility and revitalize downtown Springdale.

The Springdale Planning Commission discussed the plans during Tuesday's meeting.

The expansions will include a cover on the stadium, a building on the north side of the property, a bridge over the creek to the south of the stadium, parking on the south side of the creek and a trail linking the rodeo grounds to the Razorback Greenway, said Rick Culver, executive director.

Rodeo officials plan to begin a campaign this summer to raise $17 million for the expansion.

A bridge over the creek and a connection with the Razorback Greenway could make the rodeo grounds more accessible to residents who choose to walk or use bicycles to travel.

Commission members unanimously approved the development plan and it will move to a vote by the City Council on May 27. The plan shows the bleachers on the west side of the stadium are covered, but those on the east and south sides aren't. The plan also shows paved parking on the north, west, east and part of the south side of the arena.

All parking lots on the rodeo grounds must be paved, said Patsy Christie, city director of planning. Officials have finished paving one section of the parking lots.

Spring Creek flows along the south side of the property, and rodeo officials have an agreement with officials at Northwest Technical Institute to use some of their land across the creek for parking, Christie said. The parking area across the stream will be accessible by a bridge and won't need to be paved, because it will be used as an "overflow" lot.

The commission also approved a rezoning of the rodeo grounds, and council members will vote on the request in at their next meeting. The change is a formality, because the type of zoning the property might change to is for more public use, said Jason Appel, project engineer for Engineering Services. If passed by the council, the zoning will be the same type used for schools and airports.

The expansion is a good idea because it could attract more people to the area, said Joel Kelsey, commission chairman. It could also help revitalize downtown Springdale. He said the rodeo is a huge part of the city every year, and an expansion could make it a bigger deal for Springdale and its residents.

"The nicer, the better," he said.