Water park $430,137 in black
Fort Smith, county leaders get report on budget, visitors
FORT SMITH — A Sebastian County/Fort Smith water park made money its first year, but less than expected, officials learned at a joint meeting.
Fort Smith city directors and Sebastian County Quorum Court members were told that the Parrot Island Waterpark at Ben Geren Regional Park had a 2015 net operating income of $430,137, which was about $33,000 less than budgeted by water park operator American Resort Management Inc. of Erie, Pa.
Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman said the mood at Thursday’s meeting was light. He added that officials commented that it was a good idea to hire the water park management company to maximize the facility and market it to draw in visitors and ensure they had a good experience.
The $9.8 million park features four water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and two activity pools. It opened on Memorial Day weekend and drew about 128,000 visitors during the summer season that ended last month, according to a financial report given to officials.
Initial estimates suggested the park would draw 104,000 visitors its first year.
Sebastian County Judge David Hudson said water park management expects that 2016 visitor numbers will be similar to this year’s total.
Hudson called the first year of the water park a “tremendous success,” not only for the city and county offi- cials who worked together to make it a reality, but also for the families that have been able to enjoy it.
Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders said he thought the first year went well despite a cool and wet spring that held down initial attendance, and despite the school year going longer because of the number of snow days used.
A presentation made to city and county officials Thursday showed the water park brought in $1.53 million and had $1.1 million in expenses.
The revenue was less than the $1.9 million budgeted because management did not have a full year to market the park, Hudson said. Expenses also were less than the nearly $1.5 million budgeted.
The presentation showed that as of Oct. 13, the water park had more than $600,000 in the bank. From that amount, the city is due a $180,000 refund for upfront operating money it provided to the water park, $50,000 goes to a capital reserve fund for equipment upkeep, and $130,000 goes into a future expansion fund. That will leave $240,000 to start off the 2016 budget.
The 2016 budget anticipates revenue of $1.87 million and $1.57 million in expenses, according to the presentation.
Next year, the price of season passes will increase from $59 for individual passes to $79, and family passes will rise from $199 to $269. Gate fees at the park, $15 for persons 4 feet and taller and $10 for those under 4 feet, will remain the same in 2016 as they were in 2105.
Changes in expenses for 2016 will include a full year of labor expenses, Hudson said. The minimum wage will increase by 50 cents an hour on Jan. 1, he said, adding $34,000 to labor costs. And $17,000 is being added to the budget for landscaping work.