Washington County Enterprise-Leader
City Starts Process For Creekside Park Projects CHAIRWOMAN MATHEWS WARNS IT’S A SLOW PROCESS
FARMINGTON — City officials are discussing ways to improve Creekside Park and the first project will be a new parking lot on the east side of Broyles Street, according to Sherry Mathews, chairwoman of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
Mathews is asking for input from the public and has posted comments on a Creekside Park Facebook page to answer questions about the city’s plans. She said she is asking people to email her three ideas they have.
“We have things in mind for Phase 1 but want to open it up to the public,” Mathews said.
The city will identify the top three requests when considering priority projects for the park.
The city will use $2.1 million in new bond money to pay for improvements to Creekside Park and other park and recreation projects.
Farmington voters approved a new 1 percent sales tax in June, along with approving the city’s request to issue up to $5.1 million in bonds to pay for street and park improvements. One half of the revenue from the new 1 percent sales tax will be used to pay off the 20-year bond issues.
Kevin Faught with Stephens Inc., in Fayetteville said the city offered the park and street bonds on Aug. 12, receiving a principal amount of about $5.1 million at closing on Sept. 26. The principal includes about $127,000 in fees and costs of issuance.
The money actually is divided into two separate bond issues: a parks fund for $2.2 million and a street fund for $2.6 million.
The city’s annual debt payment for 20 years, at an average interest rate of 3.27 percent, will be about $355,000, according to Faught. Bank
of the Ozarks will serve as bond trustee.
Mathews said the city will use a park Master Plan as a guide for new projects at Creekside Park. The Master Plan, designed by Alta Planning and Design of Bentonville, originally was presented to the City Council in August 2015. The firm submitted an amended version to the city in November 2015.
The original design included an apple orchard, several smaller playgrounds, new walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, open play areas, splash pad, dog park, pavilion and several small parking lots with an estimated price tag of $7 million.
Mathews said the city does not have $7 million to complete everything on the plan but will make improvements as money allows through phases.
She said ideas for Phase 1 include a new pavilion and restroom, improving the basketball court and expanding the parking lot next to the basketball court.
When Phase 1 plans are finalized, the next step will be to consider engineering plans and then seek construction bids.
Mayor Ernie Penn also said he would like to see a new pavilion with bathrooms, along with tennis courts and new basketball goals. Another idea Penn likes is a new playground on the east side of the park.
Penn said he knows people are anxious for the city to get started on projects at Creekside but noted the city has to compile priorities, rank them and vote on them.
“We can’t go out there and just start digging dirt,” Penn said. “It’s a matter of getting the most bang for our bucks in Phase 1 and then we’ll look at Phase 2.”
Mathews gives the same message on the Creekside Park Facebook page.
“This process is time consuming so please bear with us,” she wrote to those asking questions. “I’m looking forward to seeing big changes!”