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[00:00:02]

YES. ACCORDING TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 714, WE

[Parks & Recreation Committee on March 10, 2025]

ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THREE ALDERMEN, WHICH ARE NOW CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS COMMITTEE.

AND THE MOST SENIOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SHALL BE CHAIRMAN UNLESS HE DECLINES.

SO AT THIS TIME, OUR SENIOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS SHELBY THOMAS.

OUR OTHER TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS FULFILLING THIS OR COUNCIL MEMBER TOWNSEND AND COUNCIL MEMBER MCCULLOUGH.

SO I'M FORMALLY ASKING YOU ON THE RECORD, DO YOU ACCEPT THE CHAIRMANSHIP? I ACCEPT, ALL RIGHT. MEETING IS YOURS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:00.

MARCH 10TH MEETING. WE HAVE COUNCILMAN. WE DON'T NEED TO INTRODUCE EVERYBODY.

WOULD EVERYBODY SAY YOUR NAME? JUST FOR THE RECORD, I THINK MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO CALL THE ROLL.

YOU MAY CALL THE ROLL. CALL THE ROLL. OKAY. SHELBY.

HERE. CALLIE, HERE. MEREDITH, HERE. LEONARD, HERE.

DENNY, HERE. MARCY, HERE. AND SCOTT IS ABSENT.

THANK YOU. NEW MEMBERS FOR BEING WITH US. FOR JOINING US.

TAKING THIS ON. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FEEDBACK OVER THESE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

YOU HAVE YOUR MINUTES IN FRONT OF YOU FROM OUR LAST MEETING.

YOU GUYS LOOK OVER THEM. JUST TO REMIND YOU, ONLY THE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO.

THERE'S ONLY THREE OF YOU THAT WERE HERE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO APPROVE THEM. SO YOU CAN SAVE THAT UNTIL YOUR NEXT MEETING. UNTIL SCOTT'S HERE. IT'S A GOOD POINT. THANK YOU.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.

WE'LL WE'LL CARRY THOSE OVER TO OUR NEXT MEETING.

THAT MOVES US ON TO OUR OLD BUSINESS. BLAKE, THE PROJECT UPDATES.

I WAS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO A LITTLE 2024 ROUNDUP, SINCE WE HAVEN'T MET IN A WHILE.

KIND OF GO OVER THE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO KNOCK OUT AS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR.

STORE PARK, WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AND CONNECTIVITY TO THE STREET.

WHAT WE DID, THERE WERE SOME AREAS THAT IF YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU COULD NOT GET TO THE THE TRAIL WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, JUMPING OFF THE SIDEWALK. AND SO WE CONNECTED THAT UP AT STONEHILL.

WE PUT IN A SWING SET. WHICH IS A NICE ADDITION TO THAT AREA.

INDIAN HEAD PARK, THERE'S A NEW WALKING TRAIL THAT WAS A RESULT OF A GRANT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN.

THE BILL HARMON REC CENTER. WE UPDATED THE LOCKER ROOMS. WE DID A FULL GYM REPLACEMENT, AND IT LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

AND KIND OF JUMPING INTO 25, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THE PAINTING PROCESS OF PAINTING THE FACILITY OVER THERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A NEW FACILITY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BETWEEN THE POOL AREA, REDOING THE POOL DECK GETTING THE GYM FLOOR DONE SO THAT AND ACTUALLY THE THE FLOOR AND THE LOBBY AND ALL THE OTHER ROOMS. SO IT'S THAT PLACE IS LOOKING REALLY NICE.

THEN WENT TO CITY HALL PARK. WE DID TWO PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT ARE OPEN 24 HOURS, AND THAT'S BEEN EXTREME SUCCESS WITH THAT.

ALSO, THE CITY'S FIRST ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IS OVER AT CITY HALL PARK.

AND IF YOU DROVE BY WHEN YOU CAME HERE, THAT'S HOW IT IS ALL THE TIME.

AS SOON AS THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, THEY'RE OVER THERE PLAYING. AND THEY ACTUALLY PLAY ALL DAY, EVERY DAY OVER THERE. SO THAT'S A THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING THING TO SEE. OUT AT THE BALLPARK, WE DID A NEW RESTROOM AT THE OLD SOCCER FACILITY WHICH IS IT WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY NEEDED IT OUT THERE. THE CONCESSION STANDS EACH RECEIVED A NEW ROOF, THE BASEBALL CONCESSION STAND. WE DID. WE REPLACED THE SIDING, AND IT GOT A PAINT JOB OUT THERE AS WELL.

WE DID A LOT OF COSMETIC THINGS OUT THERE. AND WE ALSO REPLACED THE OR DID A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE ASPHALT OUT THERE.

SO IT WAS A IT WAS A REALLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR PARKS AND REC.

PRETTY PROUD OF WHAT THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS AMP TO ALLOW US TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE IS PHENOMENAL.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN INTO 25, NOT AS MANY COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE JUST YET.

WE DO HAVE NEW PLAYGROUND GOING IN AT CHERRYWOOD.

WE DID A GRAND OPENING AT CHERRYWOOD WHICH I FAILED TO MENTION HAS A NEW BASKETBALL COURT, RESTROOM LIGHTING AND PARKING LOT OUT THERE AS WELL.

BUT WE'RE ADDING THE THE PLAYGROUND THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE THAT WHOLE AREA LOOKS.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS PHENOMENAL. WE'RE ALSO TALKING DOWN THE LINE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE MORE PARKING BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN GO THERE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IDEAS ON THAT.

WE'RE LOOKING TO PAVE THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS BEHIND FIELD ONE AT THE BASEBALL.

I THINK THAT'LL HELP FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. NOT JUST THE TRAIL, BUT DURING BASEBALL SEASON. WELL, PEOPLE WILL CUT THROUGH BACK THERE, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED, LIKE I SAID, THE PAINTING AT BILL HARMON REC CENTER.

THE BASKETBALL GYM'S PRETTY MUCH DONE. THE UPSTAIRS IS DONE.

WE GOT SOME SOME AREAS IN THE ROOMS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED.

[00:05:01]

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO SOME THE CARPETING IN THE BACK.

WE'VE GOT SOME POTENTIAL, THE EXTERIOR AS WELL.

SO, DANIELLE, DO THAT. THOSE NEW SCOREBOARDS WILL GO UP AT THE REC CENTER AS WELL. WE'VE GOT THOSE ORDERED. THEY'RE THEY'RE IN ROUTE.

SO AS SOON AS THEY'LL GET HERE, THOSE WILL HELP IN BASKETBALL, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES THIS YEAR WITH THE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARDS GOING DOWN, OR ONE WOULD WORK AND THE OTHERS WOULDN'T. SO WE WE SHOULD BE A GOOD SPOT COME BASKETBALL SEASON NEXT YEAR FOR THAT. SO AND AT SHERWOOD FOREST WE'VE ALREADY STRIPPED AND WAXED THE FLOORS IN THERE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE AT THE CHAMBER BANQUET THE OTHER DAY, BUT THOSE FLOORS AND THAT FACILITY LOOKS IT LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND LOOKING TO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT WE CAN KNOCK OUT ON THE SIDE AS WELL IN 2025.

SO LOOKS GOOD. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR QUESTIONS? I'VE HEARD I'VE HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE, LIKE CHERRY WOOD. YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT. I MEAN, I TRY TO JUST DRIVE BY THERE AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE PLAYING BASKETBALL, EVEN WHEN IT WAS COLD. THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE PLAYING BASKETBALL, SO THAT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT WHERE WE GOT THAT GOING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S EXCEEDED ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY'S BEING TOUCHED, NOT JUST A FEW AREAS ALL OVER.

SO THAT'S THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. NO PROBLEM.

PROGRAMS, REAL QUICK UPDATE ON I KNOW WE WE SPENT A LOT OF LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, THE CITY YOU KNOW, ABSORBING THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PROGRAM.

WE'RE OFF TO A PRETTY GOOD START OVER THERE. GOT THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS AFTER REGISTRATION.

WE'VE GOT 308 FOR BASEBALL, 106 KIDS FOR SOFTBALL TEAM WISE FOR BASEBALL.

WE'RE SITTING AT THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS HAVE FIVE TEENS.

FIVE AND SIX YEAR OLDS HAVE SIX TEAMS. SEVEN AND EIGHTS HAVE SIX TEAMS. NINE AND TEN HAVE FOUR TEAMS. THE 11 AND 12 YEAR OLD BASEBALL PLAYERS HAVE THREE TEAMS, AND THE 13 THROUGH 15 HAVE TWO TEAMS. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE OLDER KIDS IS WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER WITH LAKEWOOD.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. KABAT ALSO NUMBERS WISE FOR THE OLDER GROUP IS THEY HAVE A TEAM.

THEY WANT TO THEY WANT TO HAVE US COME OUT AND PLAY AS WELL. SO WE'RE WE'RE KIND OF SCRATCHING ANYTHING WE CAN TO GET THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW, PLAY, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE GAMES. WE'VE EVEN ENTERTAINED THE IDEA OF PUTTING THEM IN TERMS AND STUFF. BUT WE'VE GOT THE NUMBERS WISE WE WEREN'T REAL SURE OF, BUT WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SEASON. WE'RE LOOKING TO DO A PRESEASON TOURNAMENT AND A POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR FOR FOR LEAGUE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING HOW THAT SHAKES UP. SOFTBALL SOFTBALL WISE, WE HAVE TWO TEAMS FOR SIX YOU EIGHT YOU, TEN YOU AND 12 YOU AND THE 16 YOU HAS ONE TEAM.

I SPOKE WITH TOMMY TODAY, AND HE SAID RIGHT NOW MAUMELLE, VILONIA, BEEBE AND CABOT AND AND US AND SHERWOOD HAVE ALL PARTNERED TO GET THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE TEAMS ENOUGH GAMES. SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. HOPEFULLY THE SCHEDULING IS A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT.

AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY SAYS THEY'RE COMING TO OUR PARK OR WE'RE WE'RE ASKED TO GO TO THEIR PARK, THAT HAPPENS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A IT'S GOING TO BE A LEARNING PROCESS FOR A LOT INVOLVED THAT ARE RUNNING IT. YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NUMBERS FOR SOFTBALL BECAUSE SOME COMMUNITIES DIDN'T HAVE WHAT WE HAD.

SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT NOT ONLY THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY GOOD, BUT WE HAVE PARTNERS THAT WANT WANT US TO COME PLAY AND THEY WANT TO COME TO OUR PARK.

SO I THINK WE'RE OFF TO A PRETTY GOOD START ON THAT. WE'LL SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES OUT. SO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THOSE NUMBERS, HOW THEY COMPARE WITH WHAT WE HAD BEFORE WE TOOK IT OVER? WE WERE TOLD THERE'S 450 LAST YEAR. BUT I THINK THE NUMBERS FOR 14 VERSUS THEIR 450 IS A LITTLE THEY CREATED A, SOME SOME OF THE ORGANIZATION, CREATED A TOURNAMENT TEAM.

OKAY. WHICH WE'VE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED PRACTICE TIME.

WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THEM TO ALLOW THEM TO STILL HAVE THAT OPTION TO STAY IN THE PARK.

SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF A LOT OF KIDS THAT WERE IN LEAGUE LAST YEAR THAT ARE PLAYING ON TOURNAMENT. SO, I MEAN, THAT WAS KIND OF OUR GOAL ALSO TO PROVIDE THE OPTION SO AND TO STAY WITHIN THE CITY, STAY WITHIN THE PARK. SO WE'RE I KNOW OF A LOT THAT WENT PLAYED.

IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR. BUT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT EMPHASIS THAT WE NEEDED A TRUE RECREATION LEAGUE.

AND SO THAT IF YOU LOOK AT JUST PURELY THE FACT THAT WE ARE DOING THAT, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE DOING PHENOMENAL.

AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS SO THE WITH THE WHOLE WRIGLEY, OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCING THE, THE LOWER NUMBERS.

SO IT'S IT'S NICE TO WE'RE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND STILL MAKE WRIGLEY BALL A VIABLE THING BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO THAT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS. IT WAS A BIG PLUS IS ALL THE WE GOT REACHED OUT TO BY SEVERAL CITIES LOOKING FOR PARTNERSHIP OR, YOU KNOW, PARTNER BECAUSE THE NUMBERS WERE DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD.

SOFTBALL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN. VOLLEYBALL'S BEEN TREMENDOUS. THEIR NUMBERS ARE GOING UP. BUT I THINK WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN PARTNER WITH THESE, THESE CITIES, IT WORKS OUT. WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A GOOD SPOT TO TO NOT ONLY KEEP THE LEAGUES GOING TO, TO, YOU KNOW, SUSTAIN IT FOR GOING FORWARD.

[00:10:02]

SO BLAKE, IS THESE NUMBERS AS STRICTLY REC LEAGUE OR IS THIS OKAY.

100% OF THE REC KIDS. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT'S SIGNED UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR THE TOURNAMENT TEAM, THE SYLVAN HILLS BEARS ORGANIZATION. I KNOW THEY THEY WERE VERY I TALKED TO BOB BOWMAN SEVERAL TIMES. HE'S VERY SATISFIED WITH THE NUMBERS THAT THEY HAVE. AND I KNOW THEY PARTNERED WITH WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. BUT THE CITY THEMSELVES, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS RIGHT WITH THESE NUMBERS AND WITH THESE SYLVAN HILLS WE GOT OUR NUMBERS ARE WAY UP.

YES. OKAY. CORRECT. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE OF BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THIS WAS JUST I THINK THEY GOT 18.

CORRECT. TEAMS. THEIR NUMBERS. OKAY, GOOD. THAT'S GOOD.

GOOD POINT. YES. THERE IS. TO THE MAYOR. HE GOT THE BOND ISSUE WE HAVE HERE.

WE DO. SO THIS WAS TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WE ARE GETTING SOME PRICING. SO THIS IS I'M NOT PROMISING ANYTHING AT ANY STAGE RIGHT NOW.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS THIS IS A VERY LARGE POTENTIAL BOND INITIATIVE.

AND SO WE'RE GETTING SOME PRICING AND THEN CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE DECISIONS.

IN TERMS OF THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO. MAYBE WE CAN DO MORE, MAYBE WE COULD DO LESS.

BUT UNDER THE BALLOT HEADING OF THIS REDEDICATION ON THE PARKS END JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT SO THAT WE'RE GETTING PRICING ON IN SHERWOOD FOREST, A NEW EVENTS CENTER.

AND ALSO IT WOULD BE TWO BUILDINGS AND A SPORTS CENTER IN THE SPORTS CENTER.

IT WOULD HAVE THE BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, FIVE BASKETBALL COURTS, THOSE FIVE BASKETBALL COURTS CAN BE TURNED INTO TEN PICKLEBALL COURTS.

THOSE FIVE BASKETBALL COURTS CAN BE TURNED INTO 15 PICKLEBALL COURTS.

AND YOU SAID PICKLEBALL TWICE. SO. OH, BASKETBALL.

DID I SAY VOLLEYBALL? VOLLEYBALL. TEN VOLLEYBALL COURTS.

I'M SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU. FIVE BASKETBALL COURTS EQUALS TEN VOLLEYBALL COURTS. EQUAL 15 PICKLEBALL COURTS.

ALSO, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BASEBALL FIELD IMPROVING THE LIGHTING, FENCING, FULL TURF ON FIELD ONE AND INFIELD TURF ON FIELDS TWO THROUGH FIVE AND EIGHT THROUGH 12.

AND IMPROVE THE PLAYGROUND OVER BY THE SOFTBALL FIELDS.

AND THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE HENSON TRAIL GETTING IT PROPERLY ENGINEERED AND REDOING IT SO THAT IT'LL BE UP TO BIKE PED STANDARDS. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE EVER WALKED OVER THERE, BUT IT IT IS A HOT MESS AND A TRIPPING HAZARD FOR ANYBODY TO TRY TO WALK OVER THERE.

AND THEN THE LARGE COMMUNITY PARK OUT AT JACKSONVILLE.

CATO. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING OUT THERE IS I CALL IT SAND VOLLEYBALL, BUT IT'S OFFICIALLY CALLED BEACH VOLLEYBALL.

IT JUST SOUNDS WEIRD WHEN THERE'S NO OCEAN NEARBY.

BUT ANYWAY BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURTS, A SIGNATURE PLAYGROUND WITH CASTLE THEME.

COUPLE OF BASKETBALL COURTS, MULTIPLE PICKLEBALL COURTS, PUMP TRACK, CONCESSION STANDS, AND MULTIPLE BATHROOM AREAS.

SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO DIFFERENT VOLLEYBALL GROUPS.

HUGE GROWING SPORT INCLUDING BEACH VOLLEYBALL, WHICH IS MORE AND MORE UNIVERSITIES ARE NOW TAKING THAT ON AS A SCHOLARSHIP SPORT.

AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO PLAY BEACH VOLLEYBALL AND CENTRAL ARKANSAS, AND THAT'S OVER AT MURRAY PARK. AND THE NICEST WAY I COULD PUT IT IS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE OTHER OPTIONS. AND SO WE'VE WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WE'RE RESEARCHING TO FIND OUT THINGS LIKE HAVING A WAY TO COOL OFF THE SAND IN BETWEEN ROUNDS.

I WAS SURPRISED TODAY TO FIND OUT BENTONVILLE AT THEIR MEMORIAL PARK, HAVE FOUR BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURTS, AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY ADULT LEAGUES, 18 AND UP.

LEAGUES FOR SIX ON SIX AND FOUR ON FOUR. AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE, YOU KNOW, THE TWO ON TWO.

SO CERTAINLY A LOT OF THE VOLLEYBALL GROUPS ARE REALLY INTERESTED, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN THOSE, YOU KNOW, TOURNAMENTS TO THAT AREA. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE THE FINAL LIST.

[00:15:03]

THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IN PARKS.

BUT I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE FEEL THAT IT'S BETTER TO NOT OVER PROMISE.

AND YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW, WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S ABOUT GETTING THE NUMBERS TOGETHER.

AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE ON THIS BOND INITIATIVE IS THE ANIMAL SHELTER, WHICH DESPERATELY NEEDS HELP OVER THERE. IT'S NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.

IT'S NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE CITY OF OUR SIZE AND SO FORTH.

SO JUST TO KIND OF FILL EVERYBODY IN, BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WE'LL BE PULLING TOGETHER NUMBERS, DOING SOME MORE RESEARCH AND SO FORTH ON IT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I THINK THE EVENT CENTER, AS FAR AS I JUST KNOW FROM AN ATHLETIC STANDPOINT, AS FAR AS ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING AND EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS.

SO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HUGE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT INTO EITHER BASKETBALL COURTS, VOLLEYBALL COURTS, PICKLEBALL. I THINK IT WOULD BRING MONEY INTO THE CITY.

SO AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, BUT I JUST I DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING EVERY WEEKEND PAYING $20, JUST AN ENTRY FEE FOR EVERY DAY. I MEAN, I THINK I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IT IS A HUGE ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR YOUR HOTELS, FOR YOUR RESTAURANTS AND SO FORTH.

VOLLEYBALL ESPECIALLY HAS JUST GOTTEN TO BE HUGE.

AND RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT CABOT'S GAME TIME OUT THERE AND THEY ARE RAKING IT IN.

THAT FACILITY IS BRAND NEW. THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE BLACK.

THEY DO THAT MUCH BUSINESS. AND THEN DURING ON THE WEEKENDS AND THEN DURING THE WEEK, THEY RENT OUT THE COURTS AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DIFFERENT SPORTS. SOMETIMES IT'S FOR BASKETBALL.

AND THE FACT YOU'VE GOT WE'RE BASING IT ON THAT YOU CAN RECONFIGURE, YOU KNOW, ONE COURT COULD BE BASKETBALL.

THESE COULD BE VOLLEYBALL. THESE COULD BE PICKLEBALL.

EVERYTHING KIND OF DROPS DOWN FROM THE CEILING. IT'S REALLY COOL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I GUESS NEXT WE HAVE THE PICKTHORN BASKETBALL COURT.

BOTH OF Y'ALL. SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD OUT AT LAKE CHERRYWOOD INCLUSIVE BASKETBALL COURTS BEEN A HUGE HIT. AND HONESTLY, IT IS BEFORE WE EVER HAD THE RIBBON CUTTING, IT WAS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, SLAMMED. I WENT OUT THERE ON A RANDOM SATURDAY.

THERE WERE 38 PEOPLE OUT THERE WAITING IN LINE, YOU KNOW, TO THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ALL KIND OF POPPING IN TYPE OF A THING.

IT WAS GREAT. SO WE KNOW THAT THAT IS REALLY POPULAR.

IN ORDER TO GET THOSE GRANTS, YOU HAVE TO BE.

JUDICIOUS AND REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SCORE, BECAUSE IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU SCORE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN BECOME A FINALIST AND, AND GET ONE OF THESE GRANTS. AND CERTAINLY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A PENNY IF IT'S A WEALTHY AREA, IT HAS TO BE MORE OF AN UNDERSERVED AREA.

AND OF COURSE, ANY TIME YOU'VE GOT ADA STUFF THAT ALWAYS GETS YOU LOTS OF POINTS AND SO FORTH.

SO WE WERE LOOKING AROUND GOING, OKAY, WHAT WHAT IS THE NEXT MOST POPULAR BASKETBALL COURT? FOR EXAMPLE, PICKTHORN PARK IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE MOST BASKETBALL BEING PLAYED.

AND THAT IS NOT A HIGH INCOME AREA. SO THAT HELPS US.

IT ALSO HAS PARKING AND MORE PARKING EXPANSION AREAS.

SO IT'S AND IF ALL GOES WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE REGIONAL TRAIL.

SO YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LIKE RIDE A BIKE IN BETWEEN THE TWO BASKETBALL COURTS AT SOME POINT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE RIGHT NOW DOING THE RESEARCH AND EVERYTHING ON THAT.

AND JUST TO BACK UP AT REAL QUICK. WE DID APPLY FOR A GRANT ALREADY FOR THE BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, ALL THE FACILITY OUT THERE.

AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC, VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY JUST FROM THAT GRANT FOR, FOR THE LIGHTING, FOR THE LIGHTING.

SO IF ALL GOES WELL, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH THAT THIS YEAR.

[00:20:06]

IT'LL BE GOOD. SO BUT THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THERE'S ANOTHER GRANT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY PUT A WALKING BRIDGE GOING ACROSS THE CREEK.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LIVE ON ONE SIDE OF IT, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY WALK ON THE ROAD IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT PARK, WHICH IS NOT.

AND IT GETS A LOT OF FAST TRAFFIC. SO THIS WOULD MAKE IT A WHOLE LOT SAFER AND KIND OF EXTEND THE LITTLE WALKING TRAIL AREA.

ONE OF THE BIG THING ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN PARK BASKETBALL COURT IDEA IS A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO AND GROWING UP HERE PLAYING BASKETBALL OUTSIDE AT VARIOUS OUTDOOR COURTS IN GRAND PARK, AND THERE USED TO BE A CHURCH OUT HERE WE'D PLAY ALL NIGHT.

THE SIZE OF THE COURTS ARE NOT VERY BIG ON PARK COURT IS NOT VERY BIG.

SO PUTTING A COURT THE SIZE, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE DO, WE DID IT LIKE TREY WOULD, IS A HUGE DEAL. AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO THAT PLAY OUT THERE, THEY'RE LIKE, MAN, THIS COURT IS PHENOMENAL. IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CROWDED. THEY CAN SPREAD OUT AND THEY CAN PLAY THE GAME OF BASKETBALL AND GET UP AND DOWN THE COURT AND REALLY COMPETE. I THINK HAVING HAVING STUFF DONE THE RIGHT WAY, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING THAT HOW IT WAS DONE IN THE PAST. BUT IF YOU CAN PUT A FULL SIZE COURT BY JUST TURNING IT, LET'S GO DO IT.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN TURN THE COURT, MAKE A LITTLE MORE SITE FOR THE DROP OFFS, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT AS BAD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I'M I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF OF UPDATING EVERYTHING AND PROVIDING THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PLAY THE SPORTS AND GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, ENJOY OUR PARKS TO HAVE FACILITIES THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN HANG OUT AT. WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY PUTTING BACK ON OUT THERE ANOTHER PLACE THAT YOU CAN GO. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE ALL DAY, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM. RIGHT? SO IT'S IT'S IT'S A LONG THING, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO DO TO DO ANOTHER PROJECT LIKE THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN I'M PRETTY GOOD AT THEM, SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE OTHER BENEFIT OVER THERE IS ON YOUR BUILD COSTS AS WELL.

IT'S FLAT. WE HAVE A BIG OPEN FLAT AREA. YOU DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DIRT WORK THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND TREES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO IT'S WELL, GOOD. I'M GLAD Y'ALL ARE LOOKING OUT FOR ALL THOSE GRANTS.

AND WE LOVE, WE LOVE BEING ABLE TO DO PROJECTS THAT DON'T COST US A LOT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT. YEAH, WELL YEAH, WE CAN WE CAN STRETCH THE DOLLARS WHEN WE DO THAT? YES. IT'S NOT THAT IT'S ALL. YES, BUT IT DOES ALLOW YOU TO DO MORE WITH THE SAME AMOUNT.

SO THE NEXT THING WE HAVE UP IS A MEETING SCHEDULE.

SO THE STREET COMMITTEE A LOT OF THE COMMITTEES ARE GOING TO MEETING QUARTERLY UNLESS OTHERWISE CALLED. SO. AND THE REASON WHY THEY ARE DOING THAT IS WE CAN SEND YOU ALL MONTHLY REPORTS. YOU GUYS ARE ADULTS. YOU CAN READ THEM YOURSELF.

YOU DON'T NEED US READING THEM TO YOU. AND TO BE COGNIZANT OF PEOPLE'S TIME.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S A REALLY BAD LOOK ALSO TO EVERY MONTH SENDING OUT THE OH IN THIS COMMITTEE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO, YOU KNOW, COMING PRESSING BUSINESS. SO IT'S CANCELED AND IT'S CANCELED AND IT'S CANCELED.

PRIOR TO ME COMING INTO OFFICE AND OUR CHAIRMAN GOT A IT.

SUPER EXCITED ABOUT PARKS ALL OVER AGAIN. WE USED TO ONLY MEET QUARTERLY, SO.

BUT THAT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU GUYS. AND SO YEAH.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GET THE FEEL FROM EVERYBODY ON THE ON THE COMMITTEE HERE.

YEAH I AGREE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. THERE'S NO POINT IN US JUST CALLING THE MEETING TO CALL THE MEETING.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S KIND OF BOTHERED ME IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

I HATE TO SEE IT WHEN WE HAVE ONE ON THE SCHEDULE, AND THEN WE CANCEL IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING I'D RATHER US CALL ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME STUFF THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAN CANCEL A MEETING.

IT JUST. IT JUST LOOKS LIKE I SHOULD LOOK. DIDN'T LOOK.

I DON'T LIKE THAT LOOK. ME PERSONALLY, BUT WHAT'S THE THE WILL OF THE THE.

NO, I AGREE I WOULD RATHER WE HAD A MEETING WHENEVER MEET QUARTERLY.

AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO DISCUSS IN BETWEEN.

ABSOLUTELY. CALL A MEETING AND WE'LL ATTEND. I LIKE THAT BETTER THAN HAVING A STANDING MEETING ON THE CALENDAR EVERY MONTH.

AND THEN IT'S CANCELED. TWO OUT OF THREE MONTHS.

YEAH. DON'T HAVE A PARTNER. OKAY. I AGREE. DOES THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WILL OF THE COMMITTEE? YEAH. I ASK FOR A MOTION. WE CAN START MEETING QUARTERLY.

THAT'S LEONARD. I SO MOVE THAT. WE SET THE PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING.

COMMITTEE MEETING TO A QUARTERLY MEETING AS OPPOSED TO A MONTHLY MEETING.

I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE OUR MEETINGS TO QUARTERLY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? PASSES.

WE'LL SET THOSE TO QUARTERLY, AND WE'LL. AND LIKE SHE WAS SAYING, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEND OUT UPDATES SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE PARKS AND,

[00:25:09]

AND RECS. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST REACH OUT. BLAKE'S GREAT ABOUT ANSWERING QUESTIONS, ANSWERING THE PHONE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT. WE DO AN ANNOUNCING THE. SUMMER DAY CAMP REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN MARCH 17TH. GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX. REGISTRATION WILL BE AT THE BELHAVEN REC CENTER AND WE WILL BE.

THE SUMMER CAMP WILL BE OUT AT SHERWOOD FOREST.

WE TYPICALLY HAVE ABOUT 150 TO 160 KIDS OUT THERE REGISTERED.

SO IT'S A IT'S A BIG PROGRAM. SOME GRADES DO FILL UP.

SO REGISTER AS SOON AS YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IF YOU CHOOSE TO COME.

THE SECOND ANNUAL SHERWOOD SHARKS FUN RUN FIVE-K WILL BE APRIL 12TH AT NINE IS AT 9:08 A.M..

9 A.M.. YES. IT STARTS AT BELHAVEN REC CENTER.

HANNAH'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS GOING AGAIN. IT WAS A IT WAS A FUN TIME LAST YEAR TO SIT BACK AND WATCH.

I, UNFORTUNATELY, MADE A PROMISE TO HER THAT I'D BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT IT'D BE FUNNY. AND I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN, SO SOMEBODY'S GOT TO STEP IN AND PARTICIPATE FOR ME. SO YOU CAN WALK. YOU CAN WALK.

YES. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. BUT THERE'S I THINK SHE SHE BROUGHT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH HER CROSSFIT GROUP THAT CAME AND HAD A GREAT TIME.

AND I THE COOLEST THING ABOUT THE FIVE K RUN FOR ME WAS SITTING BACK AND WATCHING HOW EVERYBODY STAYED, CHEERED EACH OTHER ON AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS THERE.

THE SHARKS COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SHE BROUGHT, AND THE PEOPLE FROM THE FROM THE CITY THAT SHOWED UP.

IT WAS IT WAS REALLY COOL TO WATCH. I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT THING KEEP GROWING AND GROWING AND GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER. THAT'S AN EXCITING EVENT.

OUR FIRST CONCERT SERIES THIRD THURSDAY IN THE PARK WILL BE TRAGICALLY WHITE HERE AT CITY CITY HALL PARK, APRIL 17TH FROM 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M.. AND THE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT WILL BE HERE AT CITY HALL PARK AS WELL AT 2 P.M.

ON APRIL 20TH. THOSE ARE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT COVERS OUR AGENDA. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. I MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND. GOT A FIRST AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ADJOURNED. OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.