CABOT — The past two years have been witness to several upgrades at the site of the Cabot Community Fishing Pond, one of the waters enrolled in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fishing Program. Bridges have been added over the northeast and southwest ends of the lake. A paved walking trail was constructed around the lake, and lights went up along the track in 2011 at a cost of $20,000.
All of these improvements are just part of the big picture, said Larry Tarrant, general director for Cabot Parks and Recreation.
“The pond accommodates all ages,” he said. “People can now walk at night. It’s a place for fishing derbies. It’s just a good place to take your family and your kids.”
More recently, the city has been working on a 2,000-square-foot pavilion with tables and barbecue grills, and a 3,200-square-foot playground on the pond side of the park on Campground Road. Furthermore, there’s the addition of more restrooms.
It’s an investment of more than $140,000 in the park, one that will enhance safety as families who are fishing at the pond can constantly have their children within eyesight because of the additional pavilion, restrooms and playground equipment. In fact, they’ll always be between the water and the parking lot.
“I think that it is very important that the citizens of Cabot need to know what we’re doing if funded by our A&P (Cabot Advertising and Promotion Commission) tax money, our hamburger tax,” Tarrant said. “It is being used wisely.”
Also, Tarrant said the city has added another nine holes of disc golf at the park. Plus, there are plans to do more at Lonoke Regional Park, another of Cabot’s recreational facilities. Currently, the park is the site of a BMX track, and the future includes the possibility of adding mountain-bike trails.
Of course, the wish list is lengthy for Tarrant and the Parks and Recreation people. There are thoughts of more playground equipment, more pavilions, a baseball complex, a water park, more softball fields and the addition of a weight room and racquetball courts to the community center.
Other entities in the city are involved in these efforts as well. Cabot City Beautiful has donated some benches and trash cans to the Cabot Community Pond site. Plus, the group plans to plant some trees to enhance the overall look of the pond park.
“We’re definitely proud of that park,” Tarrant said.
“That’s one of my main focuses in this past year, to upgrade that facility. It’s going to get better. Of course, a lot of what we’re doing wouldn’t be possible without the Advertising and Promotion Commission.”
For more information on the Cabot Community Fishing Pond or other Cabot Parks and Recreation Department activities, contact Parks and Recreation at (501) 605-1506.
Staff writer James K. Joslin can be reached at (501) 399-3693 or jjoslin@arkansasonline.com.
Three Rivers, Pages 124 on 05/13/2012