All included at new Fort Smith playgrounds
Progress is being made on parks in Fort Smith.
The new all-inclusive addition to Creekmore Park is open to the public to play.
Emmanuel Castorena, 4, visited the park with his sisters Emily and Magali.
"This is actually our second time but it's really nice, I really like it a lot," Magali Castorena said. "It's one of my favorite parks here in town."
Work at the park was opened for playing in December in time for the new year.
The playground area at Creekmore Park features green rubber turf, part of the $450,000 cost. There is still some work to do at the park, but is open to the public for play.
"The grass (rubber turf) feels really nice especially for the kids," Castorena said.
Another inclusive playground in Fort Smith that has opened is John Bell Jr. Park. Electricity will be connected to the restrooms this spring.
"The idea is the parks are inclusive to all individuals with all abilities so people have a place to play," said Doug Reinert, Fort Smith parks director.
The parks allow people with different abilities a chance to play with their peers, Reinert said.
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"People can actually get on the equipment and engage with their peers," Reinert said.
Maybranch Trail
The Maybranch Trail, also known as the Old Railroad Trail will run from the Greg Smith River Trail to the Kelly Ballfields and have its first stretch completed by the end of 2022.
The first phase of the recreational trail will run from the levee at P Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Park at N. Greenwood Avenue and O Street. Once completed, this stretch of the project will feature a 10-foot-wide asphalt trail connecting the two locations, Reinert said.
"Right now I am working with the state on a grant and we are working through some of the issues we've got with the National Parks Service to work those out," Reinert said.
The future of the trail is the topic of a meeting at Elm Grove Community Center, 1901 N. Greenwood Ave. from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18.
The multipurpose trail is designed for walking, biking and rolling, the city of Fort Smith reports. People will be asked to share ideas about the trail. Fort Smith Community Mobility Department plans to provide pizza and children's activities during the meeting.
The city has $3.8 million set aside for the project.
City sidewalks
Sidewalk repairs are underway across the city. In early May, the city board of directors approved another phase of the 2022 Sidewalk Program, which will repair more than 20,000 feet of sidewalk across Fort Smith.
Also at Creekmore, a new concrete path, 8 feet wide, was completed by the start of 2023. The cost was $424,816. The work on the path that is just over a half a mile long is also expected to improve drainage issues.
"We've done the final pave and the walk-thru and all the punch items done, so all of that is complete," Reinert said.
"The feedback that I've gotten is people love it. I have not heard anything negative," Rienert said.
Steve Beam Construction completed the work in December. The path is expected improve drainage issues.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Parks are improving in Fort Smith
