Soup for a splash:
Group works to improve Park Avenue
For months, the Park Avenue Community Association has worked to raise funds for the construction of a splash pad at David F. Watkins Memorial Park, and after having reached about half of their $100,000 goal, PACA is hosting a fundraising event for the last weekend of February.
“Souper Soup Sunday” will be held at The Club House at 118 Arbor St. Sunday, Feb. 26 beginning at 2 p.m. The newly renovated event venue is just another staple in the Park Avenue community on the rise.
Working on projects in the area for decades, PACA is starting to see major improvements as new life is breathed into the historic part of town. The group has helped to install historic lighting and funded other projects to improve the neighborhood for residents and visitors in recent years.
“I gotta be honest,” Diana Hampo, who is helping to organize the event, said. “I stole the idea from my daughter Alexis at Visit Hot Springs.”
With 15 restaurants and chefs making an appearance, there will be a wide variety of soups available for tasting. Soup lovers can come and get a tray of six cups to taste at a time, before deciding which soup is best.
The winner of the competition goes home with a unique cutting board award – made in the National Park College Maker Space with the assistance of Michael Karr – declaring their title as the winner of the 2023 Souper Soup Sunday.
Participating in the event are local favorites such as DeLuca’s Pizza, The Waters, Superior Bathhouse Brewery, Bleu Monkey Grill and more, making 3 to 4 gallons of soup each.
“We’ll be here until the soup runs out,” Hampo said. “Park Avenue is a beautiful and historic street, and it deserves our love, and I hope everybody will come down and help us out.”
The event is sponsored by Clampit’s Country Kitchen, which is providing cups, utensils and crackers. There will be live music, water and coffee available and a cash bar.
Several pieces of equipment have already been purchased and are currently being stored by the
city, including the “mushroom” water dome feature. The splash pad is designed with water efficiency and disability accessibility in mind and will be push-button activated.
“We gotta have a place for kids to cool off,” Hampo said. “For old people to sit and maybe catch a little breeze and cool off. Splash pads cost a lot of money, so we’ve got to sell a lot of soup.”
All-you-can-eat tickets cost $20 at Red Light Roastery, 1003 Park Ave., The Hot Springy Dingy, 409 Park, or online at https://square.link/u/iQgg5Mlh. PACA encourages those who simply wish to give a donation, as well. The group has already received contributions from Weyerhaeuser, Arvest Bank and the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation.
Call Cindy Rogers at 501760-8812 or email Hampo at hampoland@gmail.com for more information.