West Memphis bond issue vote today

Polls open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on funding for park upgrades, facility improvements

news@theeveningtimes.com

Tilden Rodgers Park and neighborhood parks in West Memphis were slated for voters to consider upgrades. City Treasurer Frank Martin said Tilden Rodgers Park has not been improved in 22 years and the $8 million dollars in improvements could be made there without a tax increase on city residents…

if voters pass the city bond issue in today’s referendum.

According to City Treasurer Frank Martin a new tax on Southland Casino pays the bill to improve parks and recreation quality of life for both local residents and sports tourists. Martin provided an overview at a public hearing back in October. A total of $10.85 million was proposed to finish the city library and improve the city’s neighborhood parks.

The park upgrades included something for almost everyone. Two “bark parks” were on the drawing board. One dog run is an off-the-leash hound playground. The second is for dogs and their owners to take a walk. A big splash pad will cool down park visitors including ball tournament players during the hot summer months. Expanded walking paths, enlarged parking, new soccer fields and sand volleyball pits rounded out proposed park blue prints. Upgraded ball fields featuring fast draining artificial turf and bathroom, changing rooms in each dugout are sure to appeal to prospective traveling tournament teams.

“There are five 300 foot fields out there, mostly used for softball” said Martin. “The proposal puts in six fields, two 250 foot fields for 14 years an older hardball players, and four 200 foot fields for 12 years and under softball. They will be turf fields for yearround games. No (lawn) maintenance. The dugouts will have a dressing facility and a bathroom in each dugout. We’ll improve the high school field the same way. We will literally have eight fields to attract tournaments.”

Parks Director Lorenzo Parker said the ball field expansion has already attracted attention. Officials at Snowden Grove in Southaven pitched expansion to their ball complex to stay competitive with West Memphis in tourna- BOND VOTE

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ment team draw. Martin said tournaments fill local hotels, restaurants and stores generating more sales tax revenue for the city.

“We can hold 25 to 30 tournaments easily because the fields are year -round,” said Martin.

Tilden Rodgers would say good-bye to the port-opotties and hello to indoor plumbing for the public.

Concession stands get updates with a new one added to serve the additional fields. New lighting comes to the diamonds and parking area as well.

Six redone courts were planned to serve tennis players and the high school team could host regional tournaments. Converting the remaining existing courts will become a giant splash pad made it onto the drawing board too.

“They’ll be a bridge across Gammon Lake connecting the splashpads and tennis courts to the pavilions, and new playground equipment,” said Martin.

“There is currently no playground

Enlarged parking was built into the park design to handle the anticipated bigger crowds. The new parking comes with an innovation saving big bucks against traditional paving.

“The parking areas will be enlarged and we have anew design grass filed parking where we roll the grass up, put gravel back down and grass mats back over that. People can park in the grass and it wont get rutted up. It’s a brand new concept.”

“Walking paths will be tripled,” said Martin “Over a mile and a quarter were added,” said Martin.

Volleyball players may dig the four new Olympic styled sand volleyball courts.

“This is huge. The nearest other ones are in Little Rock,” said Martin. “It’s brand new; cities can’t wait to get them, and we will have four right here.”

An amphitheater was planned as part of a complete make over for Hightower Park, also to be funded by the proposed bond issue. Hightower represented the city’s most used neighborhood park.

Bond funds finish the renovation of the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center adjacent to the park. “They’ll have brand new playground equipment,” said Martin. “It’s the oldest park in town with an updated playground.”

The park may soon be a center for free speech and free music. The city planned to acquire lots that fronted East Broadway to add to the park footprint to make a new amphitheater a center piece along the main street of the city.

“There will be a small amphitheater with berm seating for political rallies,” said Martin. “Your talking about small concerts and Blues on Broadway. The park will expand from 14th to 15th and Polk to Broadway. There will be a new pavilion and outdoor rest rooms.”

Martin listed other improvements to be funded by the bond and paid by Southland taxes.

“Part of the funds will be used to finish the library,” said Martin.

Worthington Park and Franklin parks get new splashpads done on a smaller scale that the one at Tilden Rodgers Park.

City children in summer youth clubs benefit from the water fun. The ball fields at Franklin Park would be upgraded and provide an alternative to losing Friendship Field at as West Junior High was set to rebuild by the school district.

“We chose the parks next to boys and girls clubs,” sad Parks Director Lorenzo Parker.

City Councilman Tracy Catt told city council the new Southland revenue would generate $2.4 million annually against annual payments of roughly $950,000. The tax stream to grow as the casino finished its building expansion. The biggest portion of Southland taxes have gone to the city general fund.

Catt offered reassurances to city council when they sent the bond issue to vote during October meetings, “We will still put into the general fund what we traditionally have,” said Catt.

“The excess is what will handle this bond.”

For the special bond election on, polling locations will be as follows:

• West Memphis City Hall

• 7th Street Church of Christ

• Calvary Baptist Church

• Mt. Olive Church

• Pilgrim’s Rest Church

• West Memphis 1st Baptist Church

• Wonder City Boys & Girls Club

• West Memphis High School All eligible voters can vote at any of the open polling locations. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m.

to 7:30 p.m. Votes will be tabulated at West Memphis City Hall.