Fort Smith parks need sales tax revenue for projects
The city of Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Department needs its dedicated sales tax to create upcoming projects.
Voters will decide whether to extend that sales tax in an election May 24.
The tax goes toward parks capital improvement projects and the Fort Smith Fire Department. The extension is one-fourth of a 1% tax. Half of the tax goes to the fire department and half goes to parks and recreation capital improvement projects.
Without the tax, the parks department would have to limit its work to mostly focusing on maintaining existing developments, said Doug Reinert, the director of the department.
The tax brings in about $2.5 million a year.
The parks department is always looking for grants and private donations to supplement the money it gets from the city.
“So we make those dollars go as far as we can," Reinert said.
Over the last 10 years, the department has brought in $4.6 million in grants and private donations.
“But now we actually have the ability to achieve what the public wants, what they’ve asked for," Reinert said about using the tax money for projects.
The department has two playgrounds under construction. Workers are adding all-inclusive playgrounds to the grounds at Creekmore Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
The department is getting ready to add a walking trail around Creekmore Park. The trail is six-tenths of a mile.
Updates to Carol Ann Cross Park are in the design phase. The plan is to add two new bathrooms, a new parking lot and a new fishing dock.
In the future, Reinert said he would like to address the swimming pool bathhouse at Creekmore Park. The structure is 80 to 100 years old.
“Everybody has an opinion of how they want to address it," Reinert said.
The bathhouse needs to be torn down, Reinert said. When the department builds a new structure, it will need to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
One option for what to do with the swimming area would be to enclose the entire space, allowing people to use it year-round.
The pool pump house also needs to be replaced.
At John Bell Jr. Park, where there is already an inclusive playground, Reinert said the plan is to add 14 pickleball courts and six to eight basketball courts.
Restrooms for the park are in the process of being constructed.
“We’re trying to take care of what we have. We’re trying to grow because the city is growing," Reinert said.
Alex Gladden is a University of Arkansas graduate. She previously reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Jonesboro Sun before joining the Times Record. She can be contacted at agladden@swtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Parks department needs sales tax revenue for upcoming projects
