Fort Smith Parks Commission Meeting - June 10, 2026
Fort Smith Parks Commission Meeting - June 10, 2026
The Fort Smith Parks Commission met on June 10, 2026, to discuss several agenda items including the return of donated parkland, project updates, a major grant-funded trail revision, and public concerns about park amenities and construction impacts. The meeting began with the approval of minutes from the previous meeting.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting as reviewed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Keely Simpson (resident): Spoke about a May 15th event for people with disabilities held at John Bell Jr. Park. She expressed concerns about the lack of amenities (benches, tables, mud under pavilion) and safety issues (lack of fencing near road, seizure-inducing police lights, vandalism from vehicles doing donuts). She noted the park was named after an advocate for the disabled and urged improvements. She offered to seek community sponsorships for benches. Staff acknowledged the issues and offered solutions (asphalt millings for the pavilion floor, temporary bleachers, future CIP funding for picnic tables).
- Liz Armstrong (resident): Expressed anger about the condition of Ranger Heritage Park during reconstruction of the pump house. She detailed that contractor debris (rocks, netting) was thrown onto landscaping she and her husband had donated (astro turf, trees, custom door worth over $3,000). She demanded accountability and better communication, stating she was not notified of the work. Staff responded that the custom door was safely stored at the city shop, and that the contractor (Ipson Stone) would be directed to clean up. Commissioners expressed regret and promised follow-up.
Discussion Items
- Conveyance of Rio Fondron Park: Staff presented a recommendation to return a 1.5-acre parcel (donated in 2005 with intent for a public park, but never developed) back to the Fondren family. The land is costly to maintain (2 hours mowing/weeding each time), is not used by the public, and the family has requested its return. Staff noted no deed restriction exists, but the original intent was documented. The commission discussed liability concerns (soil contamination) and agreed to recommend the Board of Directors approve the direct conveyance. A motion to recommend the return was made, seconded, and approved (no opposition noted).
- Tennis Court/Pickleball Project Change Order: Staff reported an unforeseen $120,000 change order for the pickleball court project due to unsuitable soil requiring deep excavation (5-6 feet) and discovery of a clogged under-drain system. The work was completed as a field change. The change order will be presented to the Board for approval next week. Commissioners expressed sticker shock but acknowledged necessity for long-term durability.
- Cisterna Park Chunk House Update: Project expected to finish by end of June or early July, ahead of the August estimate. Contractor used a tin roof during rain to keep water out.
- Other Project Updates: Bid openings scheduled for Tillers Park parking lot and Riley Farm Park walking trail improvements. Riverfront skate and bike park shade (three cantilever structures) purchase order issued; colors to be selected later.
- Bass Reeves Legacy Loop Revised Scope: Staff presented a revised scope for a $25 million federal grant (not a loop but a 5.5-mile spine connecting 30.2 miles of trails). Original 8.8-mile loop would have cost over $40 million; revised scope costs ~$29 million, with $4 million already allocated in CIP for trails. The revision was necessitated by cost overruns and hard deadlines. Construction anticipated to begin late 2029. Commissioners expressed support, noting the revised route is logical and leverages existing infrastructure. No public comment at the prior Board meeting.
- Maintenance Update: Staff cited weather challenges for mowing, repairs to splash pad (lightning strike at MLK), motor short at Tillis, and brush hogging along river bank at Fort Smith Park improving river views and fishing access.
Key Outcomes
- Motion Approved: The commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Directors convey the Rio Fondron Park property back to the Fondren family. The recommendation will be forwarded to city administration.
- Change Order Acknowledged: The $120,000 change order for the pickleball court project will be submitted to the Board for approval; staff directed the work due to necessity.
- Revised Grant Scope Endorsed: The commission received the Bass Reeves Legacy Loop revised scope and generally supported the spine approach. The project remains under staff coordination; next steps include final agreement with FHWA and construction planning.
- John Bell Jr. Park Improvements: Staff committed to installing asphalt millings under the large pavilion and adding bleachers from existing stock. Picnic tables will be considered in future CIP planning. Parking stops to prevent vandalism have been purchased but not yet installed.
- Ranger Heritage Park Cleanup: Staff will direct the contractor to remove debris from donated landscaping and ensure the custom door (safe at city shop) is returned or reincorporated. Future communication with donors will be emphasized.
Meeting Transcript
We call this meeting order. I closest to the gap holes. Okay, I guess we'll start with the approval of minutes from previous. Is everybody got a chance to meet them? Yes, I move that we approve the minutes as as reviewed. Okay, and is there a second? A second. Okay. And so all those in favor of the minutes from the previous meeting say aye. Aye. Okay. Everybody here said aye. Okay. Items of business. That's conveyance of Rio Fondron Park. Yes. So I gave a more in-depth timeline in the agenda packet than what's up here. But beginning in 2005, and discussions kind of started before then around 2000. The Fondron family donated approximately 1.3 acres of property. And they're they donated it with the intent for it to be developed into a public park. And I will say, and something we've kind of talked about is for whatever reason when they deeded us the land, that caveat was not placed in it. So there are no stipulations. However, through the research, it was very clear they did that with the intent the city would develop into a public park. So then the following year they conveyed an additional 0.2 acres adjacent property. And so we have about a one and a half acre parcel. We have no intention whatsoever of developing it anytime soon. And you know, it's been sitting there since 2005 in the city's possession, and through discussions, the estate of the Fondron family contacted us a couple years ago and said, hey, if you're not going to develop it into a public park, can you give it back to us? And you know, rightfully so. They did make that donation, but of the property, but with that, the city does have a policy for the sell of property. So with city administration, they've been she's it's Maggie that's been doing it, has been talking further with the Fondron family, and we feel that it would be appropriate to request the board to allow us to directly convey the property back to the Fondren family because they did donate it with the intent, and we're simply not going to deliver on that intent any time soon. And to be honest, the only people who even utilize that park are the employees from Gerber and Nestle to go take their smoke break, which shouldn't be in a park anyway. So we're asking if the parks commission we can discuss it and make a recommendation to the board of directors, and I kind of gave a map up there. It is it's in a weird location, but I think the intent was there would be future residential development at the time, and that just hasn't come to fruition, and of course, Fort Smith Park is right down the road, so but what I said we honestly we don't have intent to develop it, so then this is pretty much what we're doing is mowing it. That's correct, and a lot of weeding. So Brian and I talk about this, and it's about two hours every time we it takes us two hours to maintain it. And you know, I think the Fondren estate, they do have plans, future plans for that property. I don't know exactly, but you know, I'd rather them have an opportunity to make it something that benefits our community than allow it to just sit and us not do anything with it. Plus we'll leave it. Yes, and do we own that bench? So the Gerber Nestle, I don't know who they were at the time, donated funds for those, and again, I think they did that in when was it? 2000, I want to get the date right. 2012, they're passed beyond their useful life. We thought about can we relocate it, but we're not relocating that without it breaking. So they have more than expended their useful life, and they are of no value anymore. So we would simply honestly we wouldn't even remove them. We would have maybe the Fonda and family they want to do something with it, yes. Anything in the records indicating what the plans were in 2005. There it was pretty much a playground and a walking trail around it. There were public there were public meetings where people gave comments, but that was also in conjunction with the Briar Cliff property that again we have we have, but we have no intention of developing it, but we can't sell it because it's in flood zone. So tell them why tell us why we don't want to.
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