FAYETTEVILLE -- Building an aquatics facility and buying Lewis Park outright gained the support of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Monday.
The board voted 7-0 to include $15 million for an indoor swimming facility and $4.1 million for land acquisition in the list of possible parks projects for a bond renewal vote next year. Parks staff had recommended two lists for the board to consider, one $20 million and one $25 million, which didn't include either item. Board members J.L. Jennings and Jennifer Neil were not present Monday.
Possible projects
The Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted Monday to recommend the following list of projects for an upcoming bond referendum:
REGIONAL PARKS
Kessler
Baseball/parking — $6,870,000
Artificial turf — $1,000,000
Lake Fayetteville
Veterans Park improvements — $1,000,000
Ballfield area renovations - $150,000
Lake Forest nature trail — $550,000
Lake Sequoyah
Phase I camping/study — $800,000
COMMUNITY PARKS
Bryce Davis
Park improvements — $2,400,000
Gulley
Park improvements — $700,000
Walker
Park improvements — $2,200,000
Wilson
Park improvements — $550,000
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
YRCC/Buddy Hayes — $1,000,000
Existing neighborhood parks — $650,000
New neighborhood parks — $500,000
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Combs paddle/nature park — $3,625,000
Nature in city — $600,000
Land acquisition — $4,100,000 (priority Lewis Park)
Aquatics facility — $15,000,000
Total — $41,695,000
Source: Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department
One penny of the city's existing sales tax goes toward paying off bonds for capital projects. A renewal of the bond would generate about $200 million for parks, public safety, roads and other improvements.
The City Council will vote on a list of projects to pose to voters by the end of the year. A vote is tentatively scheduled for March.
More than a dozen residents spoke at Monday's meeting, most of whom mentioned an aquatics facility, Lewis Park or building out the baseball fields at Kessler Mountain Regional Park.
Resident Anita Parisi has advocated for an indoor swimming and community center to be included on the list. She told parks board members a world-class facility could cost $24 million, with one that serves the needs of the community costing $15 million to 18 million.
Parks staff said there are operational costs to consider and factors such as where the facility would go and its scale would greatly vary the cost range.
Shanda Sloan, a mother of two, said the city's outdoor options helped her children run off energy when her family first moved here about 15 years ago. However, a lack of an indoor option left them wondering what to do in the winter time, she said.
"We have always stressed the importance of early swim instruction," Sloan said. "One summer in the pool is not enough to create a competent swimmer."
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture owns the 27-acre property near Asbell Elementary that the city leases out to use as Lewis Park. The lease was set to expire this summer but was extended another year as city and School District officials work out a long-term solution. Resident Will Dockery put together a campaign to save the park, which was set to be put on the market.
The original list parks board members saw last month had $1.9 million allocated for land acquisition. A revised list the board saw Monday from parks staff upped the amount to just more than $2.4 million and took away amounts for community and neighborhood parks.
Corey Duncan said he wanted buying Lewis Park to be a priority on the list. Other projects could still be on the table, but the clock is ticking for Lewis, he said.
"We can't put it on the backburner," Duncan said. "Once it's sold, it's gone."
Already included on both lists was $6.9 million to finish building out the baseball fields at Kessler Mountain Regional Park, bringing the total to eight. The regional park's master plan, which calls for building facilities in phases, still has about $20 million worth of work left to go.
Scott Harrison, who serves on the Fayetteville Youth Baseball board, said having youngsters divide playing time between Kessler and Walker parks has taken its toll. The board has put a significant amount of its money toward improvements at Walker, and families with children of different age ranges should be able to go to one facility, he said.
"It would only get better if we could have a facility with four more fields at Kessler," Harrison said.
Chairman Richie Lamb suggested adding the money for an aquatics facility and Lewis Park to the $25 million list from parks staff. Board members discussed the idea for about 40 minutes before deciding the amounts, bringing the total list of projects to nearly $42 million.
Parks Director Connie Edmonston said the city's administration set the guidelines for the $20 million and $25 million lists. She said she would present three lists, two from parks staff and the larger one the board recommended, to Mayor Lioneld Jordan for consideration. The recommendations then will go to the City Council.
The board also voted 7-0 to approve a master plan for Gulley Park. Features include trail connections, an activity hub for children and parents, a splash pad, dog park, a lake, art garden, orchards and open space.
NW News on 09/11/2018