FAYETTEVILLE -- The third time's a charm for a Utah-based company planning to bring a 1,000-foot-long inflatable water slide to Dickson Street this summer.
Mayor Lioneld Jordan and city department and division heads signed off on a major event permit application from Slide the City this week after denying the company's request earlier in the year.
"My concerns have been addressed," Jordan said Thursday.
Slide the City of Salt Lake City also applied to hold the event near the Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, but its application was tabled twice by the Rogers Transportation Committee.
Jordan said he was initially concerned about closing a public street all day for a for-profit venture. Nothing in city code prevents streets from being closed for commercial enterprises, but it's a factor city officials consider when reviewing event applications.
"It was hard for me to rectify ... closing down a public street for businesses along Dickson Street to help another for-profit business," Jordan explained.
But after officers of the Dickson Street Merchants Association drafted a letter in support of the event, Jordan changed his mind.
"We believe this event will have a significant positive economic impact on Dickson Street and all of downtown Fayetteville," a March 17 letter signed by Joe Fennel, Carl Collier and Bill Waite, all longtime Dickson Street merchants, stated.
The letter noted event organizers' willingness to revise their request from a Saturday (Aug. 29) to a Sunday (Aug. 30).
"We feel a Sunday date will help minimize any potential inconvenience to downtown businesses and residents," the merchants said.
Slide the City also agreed to team up with the nonprofit organization Soldier On Service Dogs in its second application.
The organization raises, trains and gives away service dogs to veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries.
The group's president, Angie Pratt, said Friday she was thrilled to hear Slide the City was moving forward.
"We're busy getting ready and trying to turn this into a super-duper hot dog event in Fayetteville," Pratt said. "Who doesn't want to slide down Dickson?"
Slide the City will give Soldier On Service Dogs $60 for each volunteer the group recruits. The nonprofit organization also will earn 18 percent of ticket sales for every person who uses a 10-percent-off coupon to enter the event.
Slide the City charges $15 to $60 for tickets depending on the number of times people choose to use the water slide and whether they buy tickets in advance, according to the company's website.
Jordan said the event required approval from the Fayetteville Police and Fire departments, the city's Water and Sewer Division and the Arkansas Department of Health, among others.
"The safety issues were the main thing for me," the mayor said.
According to Slide the City's application, water will come from a municipal fire hydrant. It will not be recirculated -- a concern city officials had previously. Instead, a hose will pull water into a "self-priming trash pump" before the water is directed via a separate hose into a nearby storm drain.
Pratt said someone will be on hand to monitor water quality in an effort to prevent any sanitation issues.
Event organizers will work with the Transportation Department to install barricades and detour signs at cross-streets.
"We want this to be an annual event," Pratt said. "The way to do that is to make sure this one goes smoothly."
The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and organizers plan to close Dickson Street from 4 a.m. to midnight to allow for site preparation and cleanup.
Police Sgt. Shannon Gabbard said the street will have to be clear of vehicles by 4 a.m. when organizers begin setting up. They'll be required to post signs notifying drivers of the street closing using the same procedures required of other events, such as Springfest, Bike, Blues & BBQ and the Joe Martin Stage Race.
NW News on 05/09/2015