Construction On Some Rogers Lake Atalanta Renovation Projects To Begin This Summer

STAFF PHOTO Michael Woods • @NWAMICHAELW Easton Girty, 8, from Pea Ridge, tosses pieces of bread to the ducks Sunday from the area where the old paddle boat dock used to be on Lake Atalanta in Rogers. Easton and his family said they like to visit the popular Rogers park and they hope the city works quickly to develop the park with new features.

STAFF PHOTO Michael Woods • @NWAMICHAELW Easton Girty, 8, from Pea Ridge, tosses pieces of bread to the ducks Sunday from the area where the old paddle boat dock used to be on Lake Atalanta in Rogers. Easton and his family said they like to visit the popular Rogers park and they hope the city works quickly to develop the park with new features.

Monday, May 12, 2014

ROGERS -- Design and construction contracts have been awarded on some portions of the renovation project at Lake Atalanta, and construction on the first of several trails is scheduled to begin in a few weeks, city officials said.

Renovation of the lake and surrounding park has been planned for more than three years. Officials plan to spend about $15 million of public and private money on the renovation project.

At A Glance

Lake Atalanta Renovation

Improvements planned for the lake, park and expanded area near the park include:

• Construction of a boardwalk with fishing piers on the east side of the lake.

• A walking, biking trail circling the lake.

• Mountain bike trails near the lake and on other city-owned property to the south of the lake.

• Creation of a small waterfall where Diamond and Frisco springs converge before entering the lake.

• Construction of a dog park at the bike park.

• Construction of a natural looking play ground and equipment.

• Addition of picnic tables throughout the park.

• Construction of a small amphitheater.

Source: Staff Report

John Prist was watching his yellow and orange bobber float on the lake Wednesday afternoon, waiting for a strike. He was one of about six fishermen spread around the lake.

"I think the renovation project is a good idea. It will be great for kids," Prist said, adding he often brings his daughters to the lake to fish, although he lives in Garfield.

"It's a lot easier for kids to fish here than on Beaver Lake," Prist said.

He expressed concern that closing the road -- as is planned -- around the lake would be hard for elderly fishermen and women.

"I wish they wouldn't close the road, but the rest of the project should be good for the area," Prist said.

There has been little renovation activity around the lake or the park, but that's getting ready to change, said David Hook, city facilities management director.

"A $240,146 contract was awarded to Core States Group for the design of the bike park. The design work is complete, we are opening bids on the construction of the bike park on May 21," Hook said. Construction could begin within 30 days of the bid opening.

The bike park will be built on the Philpot property just east of Arkansas Street. The city purchased the property more than a year ago to expand the footprint of Lake Atalanta Park.

Boulder Construction was awarded the $1.6 million design and construction contract for the trail that will connect the bike park to Frisco Springs south of the lake. Frisco and Diamond springs flow into the lake, as do some other small springs in the area.

"This is going to be a difficult trail to build," said Ron Troutman, owner and president of Boulder Construction.

"When you build in that part of Rogers, you have to understand the geology of the land. The land there is transitional. You have limestone caves and underground springs that must be protected. Part of the land where the trail will go was an unauthorized dumping ground for many years. That's also a concern," Troutman said.

Boulder employees have been to the site to study the geology to ensure placement of the trail doesn't have an adverse impact on the environment, Troutman added.

"The design of the trail is nearly complete, but that's not to say there won't be any changes to the trail when we begin construction. We may have to move the trail one way or another to protect an environmentally important area," he said.

Construction on the trail should begin in a few weeks, with completion scheduled for this fall, Troutman said.

City officials also awarded a $532,000 contract to Progressive Trail Design for construction of a bike trail around the park, Hook said.

A snag is holding up design and construction of some renovation projects, Hook said.

"We are still waiting on a dredging permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock. We've met with corps officials recently and hope a decision will be made sooner rather than later," Hook said.

Dredging doesn't depend on warm weather, Hook said.

"We can move forward with the dredging as soon as the corps grants a permit. The lake can be dredged anytime of year, unless of course the lake is frozen over," Hook said.

Corps officials could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. No one was available at media relations or the regulation section, which handles dredging permits. In previous statements, corps officials said the staff is evaluating the dredging permit application in an effort to determine if one or more permits should be issued because of the scope of the project.

Projects on hold until dredging is completed include reconfiguration of Walnut Street near the park. The project calls for widening Walnut Street, straightening out a curve and construction of a new bridge. Creation of a trap will eliminate much of the sediment draining into the lake from Diamond and Frisco springs, Hook said.

Barney Hayes, city park director, said he thinks the renovation is pretty much on schedule.

"We're doing all right. We're about where we need to be at this stage of the renovation project," Hayes said.

"It's taken a lot of time and work to get to the point. People will begin to see the renovation construction projects begin to take place this year. When the whole project is complete in a couple of years, I think people are going to be very happy with the additions and changes. The renovation should help bring more people downtown which could be part of the economic plan the city and Gateway Planning are working on this year," he said.

Robert Groh sat on an overturned bucket Wednesday afternoon on the west side of the lake, dangling a hook with a worm in shallow water hoping to attract a perch. He said he favors the renovation project.

"The only thing I'd done different would keep the road around the lake open. If they can build a walking trail around the lake they could build a better road," Groh said.

He said he'd heard there might be golf carts available to transport the elderly from the parking lot to fishing spots around the lake.

"That would sure help the older folks and the handicapped who like to fish the lake," he said.

NW News on 05/12/2014