Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025
Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025
Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting was held on October 8, 2025, but the provided date for this summary is October 14, 2025. The following reflects the content of the October 8, 2025 meeting as recorded.
The Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Commission met on October 8, 2025, at 12:00 pm at Creekmore Community Center. The meeting covered approval of previous minutes, a Girl Scout service project presentation, review and recommendation of the FY26-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), project updates, public comments, and commission/staff comments. Key actions included approving the Girl Scouts' mural project and recommending the CIP to the Board of Directors.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from the September 10, 2025, meeting were approved unanimously via motion (Sanders, second by Marquette).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jo Elsken (speaking as an individual) inquired about the possibility of a citywide tree ordinance. Commission staff directed him to the Arbor Day Foundation for templates and contact information, noting the city already has a tree ordinance for public property and parks.
Discussion Items
- Girl Scouts Silver Award Project – Haley and Zoe, from Girl Scout Troop 4398, presented a proposal to paint the pump house at Woodlawn Park with a "Splash into Kindness" theme. The project is part of their Silver Award, funded by their troop savings, and is targeted for completion by December 19, 2025. The Parks Department had already approved; the Commission voted to approve the art as proposed and allow them to proceed.
- FY26-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan – Sara Deuster presented the five-year CIP, funded by the 1/8% Sales and Use Tax extended through 2030. Key highlighted projects include:
- Maybranch Greenway: $5.1 million in FY26 (offset by over $3M in grants and private contributions).
- Creekmore Park Tennis Courts: Resurfacing and reconstruction of lower courts with concrete overlay, LED lighting, and improved spectator seating. The city applied for a grant (expected fall announcement).
- Riverfront Skate and Bike Park Shade: $75,000 in FY26 for shade structures; design may incorporate pavilion-style seating.
- 2nd Street Parking Lot (Farmers Market) Restrooms: $250,000 in FY27 for a Portland Loo; staff will coordinate with Main Street Fort Smith, Downtown AMP, and planning commission before proceeding.
- Creekmore Park Pool Pump System: A complete assessment underway; a vendor (Myrtha) provided a free draft proposal for a new system.
- Chaffee Crossing Pickleball Courts: Recreational overlay in FY28-FY29 recommended, not tournament-quality, due to low current usage and alternatives at Ben Geren Regional Park.
- Cisterna Park Pumphouse: Redesign in progress after bids came over budget.
- Cemetery Maintenance: Discussed as a potential city responsibility; Parks submitted a budget to maintain to Oak Cemetery standards but noted no formal direction. Staff expressed concern about using parks sales tax for cemeteries.
- Outdoor Exercise & Fitness Centers: Planned for FY29, with citizen input to determine locations, possibly along walking paths in major parks.
- Project Updates –
- Tilles Park Inclusive Playground: Complete and open; parking lot resurfacing planned for early next year.
- Creekmore Park Tennis Courts: Preliminary design finalized; includes concrete overlay on lower courts, removal of unsafe stairs, new LED fixtures, and drainage improvements. Bidding expected by end of year.
- Hillcrest Park Improvements: Redesign completed after resident input; construction progressing.
- Maybranch Greenway Phase IB: Design comments received from ArDOT; revisions in progress. Grant funding status: federal LWCF grant in process, state governor's funding confirmed.
- Carol Ann Cross Park: Received 2025 Hard Surface Trail of the Year award from ARPA; ribbon-cutting scheduled for October 17, 2025.
- Holiday Lights: Staff preparing displays; new LED lighting at Creekmore pool included in tennis court project.
- Commission/Staff Comments –
- Madeline Marquette reported the annual City Play Day in August saw close to 1,000 attendees.
- Chris Raible noted the Tilles Park playground has received positive feedback.
- Staff announced the retirement of Linda; Amber Plank will take over the records coordinator role.
- Halloween Express Event: October 20, 2025, at Creekmore Park, featuring a spooky train ride, crafts, and putt-putt golf ($5 for game, snow cone, snack). Volunteers needed.
- New park radio station (Neptune Radio) funded by concession and putt-putt revenues; will be used for announcements at pool and train shed.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the Girl Scouts' mural project at Woodlawn Park (motion carried unanimously).
- Recommended the FY26-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan to the Board of Directors (motion carried unanimously). The CIP will be presented at the Board's October 28, 2025 study session.
- Direction given to staff to finalize engineering agreements for Tilles Park parking lot resurfacing and to continue coordination on Creekmore tennis court improvements and grant applications.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you all for uh October meeting uh parks of recreation. First thing we have is our minutes from our previous meeting. Everybody had a chance to take a look at that. Corrections I'll entertain a motion to approve. Aye aye. First thing we have on the agenda is the uh Girl Scouts doing a presentation for us. So I'm just gonna introduce it, and then they have a wonderful presentation with the board and everything. They'll come and talk about it. So just for you all's reference, we're talking about the pump house at Woodlawn Park. You know, I think we all agree it could use a little revamp something. So these lovely Girl Scouts are a service project, have plans to spruce it up a little. So I'll spring in. You guys can come up, introduce yourselves. Thank you so much for having us today. My name's Haley. And this is Zoe. Um we are part of Girl Scout Troop 4398, and we are seniors. Um we are here because we are working on our silver project, which is the highest award of our level in Girl Scouts. The silver award requires us to have an impact on our community. Haley and I are going to do this by helping our community by painting the pump house to add artistic value to it. Under oh overlooked parts of the community. And to also spread kindness. We hope to get this approved by December 19th. We hope to get this approved because it's our goal to finish it by December 19th. Thank you for your time. Um, this is kind of a visual of what we were like a rough draft of what we were thinking of painting on the splash pad. Kind of a play on words, splash into kindness. Just a reminder. And then this will be on the back. So it could be questions. Yes, if you have any questions. So how are you girls going to fund your project? Um, our money has I mean, our troop has saved up money over the couple of years, and so we're going to use that. So will y'all be the two people doing it? Well, are they people in your creep count? Um, our parents will obviously help, but we're gonna be the main ones kind of running thought boards. And what what timeline are you gonna be working on Saturdays or after Spring? Yeah, probably most weekends. Who's the artist in the group? Um, well, like both of us. Yeah. Excellent. Yes. Do you get a badge for this? Do you get like a um yeah, we get a pin. Okay. Um I don't think if Zoe has uh the bronze award pin, which you get whenever you're a junior, and you also do a community service project, right? What? When did you plan to start? Um as soon as possible, if it gets approved.
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