Park to be named for Willis Shaw family

SPRINGDALE — City leaders looked over plans for a new park Monday and agreed to name the park for a local business leader’s family.

The City Council Committee, which is made up of the entire City Council, discussed the park, which will be on the city’s northwest section.

Mayor Doug Sprouse suggested that the new park be named for the family of the late Willis D. Shaw. The Shaw family donated $488,000 toward the park’s creation.

“I like the idea of Shaw Family Park,” Sprouse said. Council members spoke up in support of Sprouse’s suggestion.

Sprouse said a resolution to approve the name “Shaw Family Park” can be ready by next Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The city owns the 120-acre site at the corner of Ball Road and West Downum Road where the park will be located.

“It’s currently a nature park, a beautiful open field,” said Melissa Reeves, the city’s public relations director.

C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George Park, 4023 Hylton Road, was the last park the city completed.

The park was opened in June 2016 and has a combined 11 athletic fields. The northwest park will be much different, said Bill Mock, parks and recreation director.

“It does not include multiple ball fields,” Mock said. “We’ve gone back to our idea of a central park-type setting and botanical garden type setting.”

The park will feature wide open spaces, ponds, a primary trail system that moves throughout the park, a woodland trail in a forest area, a play and splash pad area, restrooms, community room, dog park, tennis courts and adult softball field with restrooms and concession area, according to park concept plans provided by Mock.

“A more natural type park is something we do not have in Springdale and is a great add to our park system,” Mock said.

The city has not set a budget for the northwest park yet, but Morgan anticipates the park will cost between $10 million to $15 million.

City leaders hope to pay for the park with a 2018 bond issue.

Wyman Morgan, city administrative and financial services director, estimates residents will be asked to vote on the issue in February or March next year.

The park is among many projects in the bond issue, which also will likely include a criminal justice complex, new animal shelter, two to three new fire stations, a northwest park and road improvement, Morgan said in July.

“Right now, we’re estimating we can fund $140 million worth of projects,” Morgan said.

The bond would be a continuation of a sales tax the city levied for the first time in 2004 to pay for $105 million in road improvements, Morgan said.