Bentonville seeking art piece for park

BENTONVILLE — The city is soliciting artist proposals for a permanent piece of public art at Phillips Park.

The Public Art Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Department will work together on the project.

The Bentonville Youth Baseball Board donated $20,000 for the project “Youth Baseball: Coaches and Players.” The objective is to recognize and celebrate the legacy of the Bentonville Youth Baseball Board and the relationship between volunteer coaches and players. Proposals are due by midnight Feb. 5, according to a city news release.

The 50-acre Phillips Park at 3108 S.E. J St. is undergoing a renovation expected to last until late next year.

Parks and Recreation Director David Wright said he hopes to see a piece of art that celebrates volunteerism and youth sports.

Jeff Goan has served in a variety of roles with Bentonville Youth Baseball including volunteer coach, board member and board president.

He would like to see something that celebrates volunteers and players — a piece with clarity of message, he said.

“Something that celebrates baseball,” he said.

The City Council in September approved a $17.1 million bid award to Nabholz Construction for the Phillips Park upgrade.

Grading and drainage have been the focus the last two months, and footings should start to appear over the next month, Wright said.

The upgrade is part of a $266 million bond for capital projects and refinancing voters approved in April 2021. Voters extended a 1-cent sales tax originally approved in 2003 to repay the bonds. The bonds will pay for $32.75 million in parks improvements.

Residents established Phillips Park several decades ago after Harlan Phillips donated land for what became Field No. 1, according to Wright. Field No. 2 was added, then came Fields 3 through 5 — the number of baseball fields there today.

Phase 1 of the project will include seven new fields with turf infields and minor fixes to Fields 1 and 2, Wright said.

Fields 1 and 2 and the parking area to the north of the park will remain open for games during first phase of construction, according to parks officials.

Wright hopes to have work done and baseball being played in some capacity by fall 2024, weather permitting.