[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6076398,"mediaKeyId","2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342","parentId",2969678,"title","Votes at a glance: advisory board approves minutes, adjourns meeting","audioSeconds",2638,"startMs",47000,"endMs",2685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342&start=47&end=2685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342/thumbnail_47000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076398/Fayetteville-City/Washington-County/Arkansas/Votes-at-a-glance-advisory-board-approves-minutes-adjourns-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076398-700d163bea08e13d0cfd0a5c54fb6bf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198886&Signature=Jjrz7cL4iCNQx1gIX5wXyYE7e8BNUJ1nO99qOXgeRHz9V55QPYipwKDkDZHX9j0gVJaUB40co~OQLEfThrAN0Cd-H~MRCwaSSYZ9-RdW0sOyPrgwrZHjz4Zl7Z15yOa6XzfipRZZiSZg9ldTF7tI5WTntd-L4yuQBfKVIsQJnVnFIzRbxPxSo6NebStP68fsb3LLr3nhofIyyKX32wyll00cAzLFqju9XSQYsT9~vnneHDKYt~PUw7-uAffgeAD~OWuSMl4GPsTl~wJEkQzCkJI-kto4lcb-TAaAeY4h4CBRHhs9jdT2tzwPjEQoD~WxBi7Ezi6nKTnHzKeDGTehDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board recorded two formal procedural votes during the April meeting.

The board approved the minutes from its March meeting after a motion and second (mover identified in transcript as \"Skye\" and second as \"Hugh\"). The meeting record shows members saying “Aye” to approve; no roll-call tally with member names was included in the transcript.

At the meeting’s close the board moved to adjourn. The motion received a second from Board member Sarah Downing and passed on a voice vote. No other formal board votes on ordinances or project approvals were recorded in the transcript; staff reported that Council had approved a construction bid for Bryce Davis Park but that was a Council action, not a board vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board 4.8.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The advisory board approved the March meeting minutes and later voted to adjourn; no other formal board motions were recorded during the meeting.","taxTitle","Fayetteville City, Washington County, Arkansas","taxId",5768,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6076404,"Parks staff outline construction and restoration projects across Fayetteville parks",447,1609000,2056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342&start=1609&end=2056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342/thumbnail_1609000.jpg","/articles/6076404/Fayetteville-City/Washington-County/Arkansas/Parks-staff-outline-construction-and-restoration-projects-across-Fayetteville-parks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076404-dd3c58f031570514b6eaeb4a3ec0762d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198886&Signature=QNtkrNTihDsmE9E6jfHhq-rcHJZAsONAxKQzNNJeHN9g~p05RjuHZRilzi4qHWo2D6eiC8duPBbIoQ8R4Kf77703w~OXFFgeVFbB2rgu~Wdj4sp6no-j-vH4L0bYXX67WX62SzAgOA9~Pj5Lxrmr~2z9wCkgBXCQB~sxzkYGC8hr1yi533a6~7BNHHpiWLza8657l-or1WPdxUKuyrqZs~mSQJ9ljjSaK7p7UcmGSQhnDntiLK72lHaop0WaE4mWqBw8P4j6ggtuAfxlwRlIfgXk3sGPXz5EyL3nE5R4SG-HSVvWAsHiokxKAQcYbRY-0Y110acXnzDFdXTPbVTmRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parks staff provided an overview of ongoing and upcoming construction and restoration projects across Fayetteville parks, including bids approved, design work completed and next steps for multiple sites.

Bryce Davis: Staff said City Council approved a construction bid last week. Work will include more swings, a pavilion adjacent to the playground, shade structures and lighting improvements to connect paths to the dog park.

Underwood Park: Staff said construction documents were submitted to purchasing and the project should be advertised for bids in the coming weeks. First-phase work will include parking, restroom, utilities, a playground, pickleball and basketball courts, and a central green; the water feature is not included in this stage.

Walker Park: Plans will repurpose batting cages into three pickleball courts, add three additional courts, rebuild the playground, repair tennis courts and add social pavilions and multiuse open space. Staff noted three baseball backstops in the multipurpose field area that provide practice opportunities.

Combs and Gully: Combs is in the construction-document review cycle; staff said they typically have two to three review rounds before bidding. Gully planning may add parking, pickleball/tennis courts, sand volleyball and dog-park improvements depending on available funds.

Wilson Park and stream restoration: Staff said Wilson’s stream-restoration work has started with survey work and ties into the promenade restoration and grant-funded invasive-species removal led by local conservation partners.

Friends of Fayetteville Parks and scholarships: Staff reported the Friends board expanded and allocated $2,500 to the recreation program for camp and sports scholarships; staff said most current fundraising is directed toward scholarships.

Staff asked board members to visit project sites and noted several upcoming volunteer events and spring programming, including cleanup days, tree-week activities and youth events. Several members thanked staff for the updates.","Staff updated the advisory board on several park construction projects and restorations: Bryce Davis playground and pavilion, Underwood Park infrastructure and amenities, Walker Park redesign with pickleball and practice backstops, Combs master-plan construction documents, Gully parking and courts, and Wilson stream restoration.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6076408,"Parks staff discuss preliminary talks with packaging company near White River Park",183,961000,1144000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342&start=961&end=1144","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342/thumbnail_961000.jpg","/articles/6076408/Fayetteville-City/Washington-County/Arkansas/Parks-staff-discuss-preliminary-talks-with-packaging-company-near-White-River-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076408-e11ae8567e8bf53791c5435c608c37c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198886&Signature=GRzmihRM2Ch2y4Ayax97Z8NzCpwRdEjivPNSrLZ5dllU0Ta8f9Z5L~kWwok3MC6snT0CqXH5J0YhBW8i1A5o8yOIZ2E8Abrskss0EoXsdoGJoSchN3~aPWKF01BySHcjBCTbr9iKpzzRpHDwUgOScH~Tkftn6Maf7zY4E8rlnmos~zi~5kG8NvMCB-GZ8-9cSubq0cEiHY7TvizWZbvNWmizzD3bVtE80dTi~PPN6RP-rz5BbkdAnsvKwNBgJXg37R~6H61jQQP6B1jBtlv9oKng3lRHxFvl1GFBtVCe5XbWLa32MqbEQB4psqihdeXRx33lhaIL9f84KGLsW8tFhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parks staff briefed the advisory board on preliminary conversations with a business north of White River Park that is seeking to expand and needs a paved access drive across park property for large equipment deliveries.

A parks presenter said the business, described as a packaging and printing operation, has heavy presses that require delivery access and that the company’s proposed loading-dock access would mostly be on private property but would use a short access drive that crosses park land. The staff presenter said the access drive would be about 20 feet wide and paved, and that providing access during the company’s construction could also create a future trail corridor or trailhead, offering a potential partnership benefit to the park.

“We actually did talk about that. They they will seem to think that that was okay...We talked about, you know, we we talked about this being a park spiced and did they have any issues with that and they did. You know, their their employees would probably come out and have lunch...So that that is a possibility,” the parks presenter said.

Staff said the company’s work could also improve park access for invasive-plant removal and grant-related restoration work, but emphasized the talks are preliminary. The board heard that any arrangement would require a quid pro quo in exchange for use of park property and that staff will return with more detailed proposals and legal and land-use analysis if discussions proceed.","Parks staff described early discussions with a nearby packaging business seeking site access that could affect trail corridors and park access; staff said any land use would require quid pro quo and further review.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6076413,"Board reviews proposed update to donor recognition ordinance, subcommittee recommends thresholds",178,700000,878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342&start=700&end=878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342/thumbnail_700000.jpg","/articles/6076413/Fayetteville-City/Washington-County/Arkansas/Board-reviews-proposed-update-to-donor-recognition-ordinance-subcommittee-recommends-thresholds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076413-6ce183e5df9ed295136f566891952e7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198886&Signature=VlQM6EPgPKQUDw1JhbKmniTdGlZbw99Qg~1VKUFDIYnqBpRez9fqFGmnLyJmM~Jw28znJ8zDpg-7EtbtMjZn01TWo9SGkqDhUNcdNK1xAIC5mMGdrVKFhUn01Jy4RMHORKf7tqjoqKSFPpXMGmV0zCn5mvykG~OV~-G58x6PriyIfzZUPR-kJLfAAQy6VfdfyOYZxZoQuASmyeegkh7pNCVExoEiFAB-hPb4sYxLBTZErKfC0ypuaJ0TDQXPYBY-3HEhcaENglkSl~2sdWCdJtGoPElKAVjjftiqQXNdh-D2Xnp0cmeRFlrNUgcNAx8y~g59iUrEwNWkNAA6gLUs8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A subcommittee presented a proposed amendment to Fayetteville’s donor recognition ordinance to give staff and the Friends of Fayetteville Parks more discretion to approve signage and recognition for smaller contributions while reserving large naming requests for City Council review.

A parks staff member told the advisory board that the current ordinance, created around 20 years earlier, assigns recognition types to fixed dollar categories; the proposed change would remove the rigid categories and instead set minimum and maximum thresholds and design parameters for recognition signs.

“What we are proposing is that, basically, all of those categories go away, and we set some minimum and maximum thresholds that give staff and the Friends of Fayetteville Park some wiggle room to work with folks who want to give us some money for capital improvements, or other things, that could then be approved via staff, with parameters around what that recognition sign looks like,” the parks staff member said. The staff member said the city attorney reviewed the language and the subcommittee (members described as Steve, Yountree and a third member) approved the proposed wording.

Under the proposal discussed, donations above a threshold — staff identified $500,000 as the illustrative cap for the highest-level recognition — would be forwarded to City Council for consideration, and any request to name a facility would be considered by council. The subcommittee recommended the board review the redline and clean versions and consider a vote at a future meeting; several board members preferred taking the item up at the next meeting to allow time for study.

The board did not take a formal vote on the ordinance amendment; staff and the subcommittee will return with the draft for final review and an anticipated board vote before any council submission.","A subcommittee proposed removing fixed dollar categories from the donor recognition ordinance and setting minimum/maximum thresholds to let staff and Friends of Fayetteville Parks approve smaller donations; larger gifts would still go to council.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6076417,"Parents, coaches press Parks board for more public access to city baseball fields",196,108000,304000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342&start=108&end=304","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2969678-711320f87c6673d69ac2b588efd33342/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6076417/Fayetteville-City/Washington-County/Arkansas/Parents-coaches-press-Parks-board-for-more-public-access-to-city-baseball-fields","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076417-9516aaa2ee7f7363342e0aa508ac5240/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198886&Signature=bUwwAqF~ckyyOuHRgNGEQe3HRMcBhCz8k34GNO~DYghQCP59Y9jIIHPNsP5aJrnvtTJGzTvNHisKAdB9Xmiyc1rMdWmXp3FcbeMmfPn1y5NYHEflekt~mI6cN79Uo7J3ajA3q8qjUinU0vZ0zBwS3uFTK4OTeUr4L~yOwUxZPRvbW6dg59Cfm96lN8QvDsb8VM12mcbL4pmdpwlM5TgnnZ1QnO4a6I2H4R-DzC11Np5Qt~uZQn5In~dmCi2busf~cOLqjW4iFh6yehAHTyHGjaY1Fj4H6zHOSKXol8yVHYW9jT-ifc23ofJ09-NFyzK9CbksVSVrvpNhquf75OkcYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volunteer coaches and parents told the Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board on April (date not specified) that they are having trouble finding public practice space for youth baseball teams and asked the city to increase and better publicize access outside organized league schedules.

Amanda Goodman, a volunteer coach, said her team’s players are Fayetteville residents but struggle to find practice space. “We cannot find a field to practice on. We’ve been run off fields. We’ve had the cops fall upon our children being on a Mount Kessler Field,” Goodman said.

The board heard that closure of some fields and heavy use by organized leagues — which reserve fields for extended spring and fall seasons and weekend tournaments — have reduced available public space. Parks staff said they introduced a pilot this year to help. “We have implemented starting this year, to open 1 weekend per month available to anyone in the community to preserve Lakeland’s facilities, or community play or practice sessions,” a parks staff member said, adding the program is in its inaugural year and staff will monitor how it works.

Staff described the seasonal cadence for permitted league use as roughly mid-February through mid-July, resuming in mid-August through October. Parks staff acknowledged the single monthly open weekend will not fully meet demand and asked the community to provide usage data so the city can consider fields in future capital planning. Staff said they will provide a predetermined monthly schedule for the open weekends and post it publicly; they also said individuals may reserve fields through the city’s online permit system to guarantee access.

Speakers and public commenters also suggested practical sharing approaches — for example, allowing two teams to share a single field when turnout is low — and noted that modest increases in fees for reserved fields would make youth travel programs cost-prohibitive for some families. Goodman estimated that charging $500 per month for field access would add “$1,400 extra a child per season” and said public access helps keep programs affordable.

Staff listed several facilities that remain available by reservation or first-come, first-served use, including Kessler, White River, Wilson Park, Gary Hampton and Lake Fayetteville, and said the Wilson Park field is now reservable online. Staff said they will email commenters a schedule of the monthly open weekends and improve newsletter and social media outreach to increase community awareness.

Board members thanked the commenters and encouraged continued communication so staff can gather evidence for future capital requests.","Volunteer coaches and parents told the Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board that organized leagues limit community access to Fayetteville fields and asked staff for clearer scheduling and more open play dates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: advisory board approves minutes, adjourns meeting

Parks staff outline construction and restoration projects across Fayetteville parks

Parks staff discuss preliminary talks with packaging company near White River Park

Board reviews proposed update to donor recognition ordinance, subcommittee recommends thresholds

Parents, coaches press Parks board for more public access to city baseball fields