HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-06 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION
ADVISORY BOARD
Minutes for July 6, 2009
Opening:
The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman
Wade Colwell at 5:35 p.m. on July 6, 2009 in Room 211 of the City Administration Building at 113
West Mountain in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Present:
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Colwell, Biendara, Hatfield, Waite, P. Jones,
Meldrum, Mauritson, and Watson were present. Meinecke was absent. Staff members Edmonston,
Humphry, C. Jones, Jumper, Gipson, Thomas, Gaulke, and the audience were present.
1. Introduction of new PRAB member, Phillip Watson
2. Approval of June 1, 2009 PRAB Meeting Minutes
PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to approve the minutes as written, and Biendara
seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
3. Botanical Garden Monthly Report: Walt Eilers
Eilers discussed the fact that BGO is not taxpayer supported, but private. He then asked how PRAB
wants to be involved in the BGO Master Plan.
Colwell said that maybe some members could sit in on some of the BGO meetings.
Eilers said that he will let everyone know when the meetings are going to be held. He would like
PRAB engaged in the process before the master plan is presented.
4. Lake Fayetteville Trail Alignment: Matt Mihalevich, Trails Coordinator
Mihalevich handed out a map of Scull Creek. He said that the red line on the map representing the
trail is 1.67 miles long. They are working on the Scull Creek Trail and finishing it up. They have a
great partnership with Procter and Gamble, who is located at an area along the trail. The company
was patient while they were working on the trail. The Lake Fayetteville Trail will have a 140' span
bridge.
Meldrum asked if it will need to be built up along the bridge because it's so low.
Mihalevich said yes, it would.
Colwell asked if there was any talk from Springdale about connecting with the trail.
Mihalevich said yes, they have applied for a grant.
Colwell asked if the City of Johnson was planning to connect with the northern part of Mud Creek.
Mihalevich said halfway under the bridge is the city line between Johnson and Fayetteville. That is
where Johnson would connect.
Colwell said north of Maple there is more graffiti.
Mihalevich said he saw some there made with chalk markings.
Meldrum said he saw some on North Street on Sweetser's property.
Colwell said the trail work is exciting.
Mauritson said they were doing a great job on the trails.
5. AR Parks & Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant Project: Alison Jumper, Park
Planner
Staff Recommendation: To apply for $250,000 from AR Parks and Tourism Outdoor
Recreation matching grant program for the development of Bryce Davis Park. Staff
recommends approval of the conceptual plan of Bryce Davis Park.
A public meeting was held on June 24 to receive input from the public for a project for the Arkansas
Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant money. Many ideas were proposed by the public, such
as tennis courts, a baseball complex, and Bryce Davis Park. Jumper presented PRAB a conceptual
plan for Bryce Davis Park including a dog park, restrooms, a large pavilion, a trail, picnic areas,
fishing pier, and a labyrinth.
Colwell said he would like as much of the vegetative border as possible to stay within the park to
enhance the wildlife. He also asked if there were any tennis courts in the nearby subdivision.
Waite suggested a tennis court could be placed into the park.
Jumper said it might be a good place because it's a community park.
Edmonston said the citizens at the public meeting that were pushing for more tennis courts liked the
idea of the courts being located in one area for tournaments and socialization.
Biendara said that it's important to keep as much greenspace as possible in Davis Park.
Parking is proposed on the north side of the original Davis Park. There is a vegetative buffer
between the parking lot and the neighborhood. The conceptual plan connects the original park to the
new park acreage.
Jumper and Mihalevich walked the park to lay out the trail connection into the Master Trail Plan.
Edmonston said the grant project selected needs to have funds budgeted for the grant application.
She also said many people want a Regional Park.
Colwell said the Bryce Davis plan is ready to be submitted as a grant project. The grant application
deadline is August 28", in which all bid documents must be included.
PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to follow staff recommendation to apply for $250,000
from AR Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation matching grant program for the
development of Bryce Davis Park. Staff recommends approval of the conceptual plan of
Bryce Davis Park. Colwell seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
6. Other Business:
Gipson handed out a document showing several cities comparable in population to Fayetteville, and
the number of tennis courts they have available to the public. He discussed the court usage at Wilson
Park.
Colwell asked how many courts are available in Fayetteville.
Gipson said there were six courts at Wilson and two at Walker.
Colwell then asked how many private courts were in Fayetteville.
Gipson said he wasn't sure, maybe twenty? He could find out.
Gipson then talked about the two upcoming concerts for July- "Contagious" and "Full House".
There are also two more Dive -In movies to be shown- "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and
"Over the Hedge".
Gipson said the summer camps were going well. This week, Outdoor Adventure Camp has
approximately forty-five participants. The Drama Camp is totally full.
Colwell addressed some of the upcoming events. The YRCC dedication of the children's garden
shed will be July 91" at 9:30 a.m.
Edmonston said that project belongs to Roxanne Worthy.
Colwell mentioned the Wilson Park Trail Bridge ribbon cutting. That will happen on July 15ih at
10:00 a.m. at the new bridge on the SE comer of the park.
Colwell said that he was on Rookery Trail, where he saw many birds. He talked to Jackie Smith, the
boat dock operator. Smith said that more and more people are coming out birding. Smith also said
that it would be good to have a map of Lake Fayetteville to sell for about $1.00 apiece.
Edmonston told PRAB to look forward to next month's meeting. The 2010 budget will be presented,
as well as the five year CIP plan.
7. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas
