New Prairie Grove Park Receives Official Name

PRAIRIE GROVE — The city’s new public park will be called Muddy Fork Park.

Prairie Grove City Council last week approved the official name for the park located near the city’s sewer treatment plant.

The park has about 15 undeveloped acres, which includes seven acres the city purchased last fall with land on both sides of the Muddy Fork of the Illinois River. The new area will be used for a natural, unpaved trail with river views.

Along with approving the park name, City Council members also adopted a resolution to amend the city’s engineering contract for McClelland Consulting Engineers to complete design work for the park and oversee construction for $28,000, plus direct expenses.

Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works, said he has submitted two grant applications to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department for the park. The city is seeking more than $200,000 in grant money.

If approved, the city would be responsible for 20 percent of the grants. The money would not be available until 2018, and would be

used for pedestrian bridges and walking trails.

Oelrich said he will submit a third grant application to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Recreation later this summer. This application possibly will seek funds to build a dog park, Oelrich said.

Park amenities will include a paved walking trail, natural trail, multi-use grassy areas that can be used for soccer and other activities and a dog park. Future development will be playground and picnic areas, paved parking lot, restroom facility and fishing sites along the river.

City employees already have been working on the park, leveling land and planting grass. Oelrich said he hopes to open the grassy, multi-use areas to the public in the fall.

The public will be able to access the park from Belle Meade subdivision. The city purchased two empty lots in Belle Meade from Arvest Bank in 2015, and a driveway would be installed through the lots to a parking lot at the park.

In other action, the City Council approved a request from fire Chief J.C. Dobbs to purchase an inflatable rescue boat for about $20,000. Dobbs pointed out Prairie Grove has to rely on rescue boats from Farmington and Lincoln fire departments for flooding emergencies and other situations dealing with severe weather.

“This is the second or third time Prairie Grove has been turned into an island,” Dobbs said, referring to recent flooding when police closed roads leading into Prairie Grove.

Dobbs said the boat could be used for calls at the lake and as a shuttle service to help people reach safety because of flooding.

Mayor Sonny Hudson said money for the 14-foot boat would come from funds set aside for equipment.

In addition, the Council approved an oral history project to interview and record residents about growing up in Prairie Grove. Scott Davis, who teaches broadcasting at Rogers High School, approached the Council about the project. He recently completed an oral history project for Cane Hill. Davis said he would probably charge $40 an hour and would begin working on it this summer.

The Council approved a request to replat Grandview subdivision from one large lot into five residential lots, rezoned a section of Heritage Heights near U.S. Highway 62 from commercial to single-family residential and rezoned a part of Prairie Meadows behind the Bank of Fayetteville from commercial to residential-2 for duplexes.