Fort Smith Parks Board Meeting – May 14, 2026
Fort Smith Parks Board Meeting – May 14, 2026
The Fort Smith Parks Board met on May 14, 2026, to review ongoing and upcoming park projects, address maintenance challenges, and discuss trail connectivity issues. Key items included completion of Woodlawn Park Phase II, unexpected discoveries at Creekmore Park tennis courts, a new shade structure at the Riverfront Skate and Bike Park, and a critical decision to use shareows for the May Branch Greenway Phase 1B after railroad negotiations stalled.
Consent Calendar
- The board unanimously approved the March meeting minutes.
Discussion Items
- Woodlawn Park Improvements Phase II: All improvements are complete, including splash pad, restroom, basketball court, and new equipment for toddlers and older kids. A seat wall with shade was integrated. A small memorial for the late fire station dog (Two Ds) was added. Future sidewalk work is low priority.
- Creekmore Park Tennis Courts: Excavation revealed an unexpected former brick cistern and multiple asphalt/concrete layers, causing extra dirt removal to landfill. Coordination with WADA and Village Harbour ensures four courts remain available during construction. Project timeline may extend but remains on schedule.
- Riverfront Skate and Bike Park Shade: Two shade structures (under $60,000 total including installation) will be placed over existing benches, as preferred by the skate community. A third structure over a picnic table may require board approval if over $75,000. The half-pipe from MLK Park will be moved to Riverfront with volunteer assistance.
- Tillis Park Parking Lot: Design is complete; bids open June 11. Work includes deep patching of worst area, standard mill/overlay, and rerouting a sidewalk to save a large tree.
- Riley Farm Park Trail Improvements (Phase I): About 300 linear feet of pedestrian bridges will be eliminated due to cost and recurring damage. Alternative concrete culverts or playground ramps are being considered. Bidding alongside Tillis project.
- Creekmore Park Pool Improvements: HDPE grates installed, diving well drains replaced, and a pool lift added per federal ADA requirement (even though the diving well is 10 feet deep). Lift can be removed for swim meets. Staff reported 25 lifeguards and cashiers hired and trained; water is clear.
- May Branch Greenway Phase 1B: After Union Pacific rejected design options (shared-use path and crossing), the board decided to pursue a shareow (shared roadway) on Sherrows Road with ARDOT approval received the day before the meeting (May 13). This is not ideal but will keep the project alive. ARDOT requires future safer crossing proposals. The ORLP grant ($712,000 initial award) and state funds ($1.3 million) are pending. Bid could go out later this year.
- May Branch Greenway Phase 2: The city will acquire railroad-owned property (entire green line) through a consent decree project led by utilities. Parks will fund the difference to upgrade from an 8-foot to 10-foot wide asphalt trail. This section is about 0.2 miles.
- Methodist Village Trail Connector: Grant accepted; engineering underway. R Dot review process will follow standard phases.
- Cisterna Park Pump House: Work began May 4.
- Farmers Market Solar Canopies: Activated on Saturday, May 10. Colored lights added via donations. Judge Spears proposed a stagecoach statue on Garrison Avenue; city will help remove asphalt, install curb and sidewalk.
- Maintenance & Operations: Mowing prioritized; storm cleanup at Tillis Park (tree damaged pavilion roof). A 65-foot tree removed at Fort Smith Park; beehive relocated safely. Beehive removal and bat house projects (Eagle Scout) ongoing.
- Bathroom Vandalism & Security: Ongoing issues at multiple parks. Tillis bathroom closed due to vandalism; part ordered and installed, awaiting OG&E to restore power. John Bell Jr. automatic locks have power failure issues. Staff discussed limitations of cameras.
Key Outcomes
- Approved March meeting minutes (unanimous).
- Directed staff to proceed with shareows on Sherrows for May Branch Greenway Phase 1B, pending ARDOT’s final approval.
- Staff authorized to bid Tillis parking lot and Riley Farm trail improvements simultaneously.
- City will pay 100% of cost difference to widen the utilities consent decree trail to 10 feet (May Branch Phase 2).
- No further votes taken; all decisions were administrative or approved by consensus.
Other Updates
- Parks social media presence improved; weekly posting goal set.
- Arbor Day proclamation received; tree planted at key facility.
- Bicycle and pedestrian safety signage will be coordinated with Public Works for May Branch gap areas.
- Future phases of May Branch Greenway (Phase 3 from Rogers to Acme) discussed; potential pedestrian crossing improvements at Greenwood and Rogers.
- Bat house donation from Boy Scouts for multiple park locations.
Meeting Transcript
So we'll get started with our main parks and break meeting. Appreciate everybody making it. First thing we have is our March uh meeting minutes to approve. Somebody's making a motion. Oh, did someone? No, okay. Let's move. I moved to approve the minutes from the RP. Alright. So motion is a second. All in favor say aye. I was gonna say one thing. I know Sam emailed everyone, but Sean emailed me and she had a family emergency and had to go out of state. So that's why she's in our here. We have more, right? Okay. Alright, well, let's just jump right into it. Project updates. There we go. Woodlawn park improvements phase two. Last time we were here, we showed you some really wet pictures. We hadn't had any of the turf laid. Unfortunately, these were taken today, so it's not as pretty as it normally is because we have a lot of leaves and limbs and everything in there, but it's getting cleaned out. That's what happens when you have random stores. There's always cleanup, but nothing dangerous. And then I did pick this picture specifically because you can see the seat wall that we integrated there with some shade. So if toddlers are on that area and the bigger kids are on the splash pad, mommy can still, mommy daddy grandparent can still see them both. But kids are already on that, enjoying it. We have actually a gentleman from Hillcrest took his little green kids out there all the way out there, and he really really enjoyed it. So good project all around improvements to that park are complete. So to date, we've done splash pad, restroom, new basketball court to address some drainage, drainage issues, brand new equipment for older kids and infants. So pretty much a complete park improvement. Down the road, we'll probably address like the small sidewalk that's around the uh park, but that's off into the future and not a big priority right now. Good job. Very good. And if you want to know, it is possible for an adult to play in that uncomfortably, uncomfortably. I wanted to see what was in it, okay. Yeah, well, there's there's a fireman's cave. There's how do you what all you need to put out a fire? There's all sorts of stuff, farmers market stuff in there. Wow, it's really great. Should have taken pictures while I was in there, but I didn't. Y'all are welcome to go get your own pictures because I'm not going back. We're been cutting. I think we do need to have one. Oh, I didn't get a picture. I've only showed y'all in a rendering, but I don't have this. The fire station side is over there. It has mud, the dog that was at fire station six. That's the dog, the fire station dog that passed away.
openpublica.com