Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
City Council OKs treehouse
Lake Atalanta renovation includes hiking, biking trails
ROGERS — The City Council approved construction of a treehouse at Lake Atalanta Park during its meeting Tuesday.
The treehouse will be built into a hill overlooking the main entrance of the park off Walnut Street, David Hook, Rogers director of facilities and development, said.
“This looks awesome,” Marge Wolf, council member, said as she looked over a drawing of the treehouse before approving it.
Lake Atalanta Park is undergoing a $17.5 million renovation including the addition of more than 3 miles of hard-surface trails and 10 miles of single-track mountain and hiking trails.
A $47,400 contract with Natural State Treehouses of Fayetteville for the treehouse construction was approved by the council.
Hook said the treehouse will have two wood platforms reached by stone and spiraling staircases.
“Trees will be integrated into the structure or right next to it,” Hook said.
Mayor Greg Hines said the company has a reputation of constructing unique structures. He said it was hired to build treehouses
found on the Amazeum campus in Bentonville.
Trails also will be incorporated with the treehouse, Hines said. He said it’s possible a trail will be able to run under one of the houses.
The treehouse is in addition to other natural themed playground equipment that will be at the park, Hines said.
“The equipment will use muted tones and visually blend into the natural setting,” Hines said. Other renovation includes fishing piers, boardwalks, a serenity garden and an information center. Roads that connect to the park also are being updated.
Hook said the park is set to open in October.
Preliminary work started on the Lake Atalanta project in 2008. About 125 acres surrounding property was purchased in recent years to expand the park to 235-acres.
The Work Projects Administration, formerly the Works Progress Administration, began construction on the lake in 1936. Its dam was one of 36 built in Arkansas between 1930 and 1937.
The Walton Family Foundation provided a $3.8 million matching grant to the city for the park’s improvement.