Recreationists who enjoy the Camp Robinson Special Use Area near Conway agreed with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at a public meeting Tuesday that fees for activities would benefit the outdoor area, but they also urged the commission to rebuild the clubhouse that a recent tornado destroyed.
An April 27 tornado that ripped through nearby Mayflower and Vilonia spurred a re-evaluation of the 4,029-acre outdoor activity site.
Damage to 300 acres of forestland, the clubhouse, a horse barn, a dog kennel, offices, residences and other infrastructure totaling $800,000 in insurance claims led the commission to make decisions about Camp Robinson's future.
Game and Fish Commission staff recommended that the agency eliminate buildings that require long-term maintenance and end a number of services.
"Our initial focus was just trying to begin the cleanup," Chief of Wildlife Management Brad Carner said to about 40 people. "But we quickly realized that now was the time to take a look at our current resources, both manpower and budget, that have been committed to these special use areas."
Along with J. Perry Mikles Blue Mountain special use areas near Booneville, Camp Robinson is considered a special use area and must be funded entirely by state dollars, without any federal matching or reimbursement programs.
Because Camp Robinson is a popular spot for field training and testing hunting dogs, trail riding, archery and other sporting competitions, much of its maintenance costs were associated with these events. Its fiscal 2014 budget of $141,155 included mowing the field trial course, releasing pen-raised quail each fall along the course and pulling a dog wagon during field trial season. About $30,000 of that figure maintained the clubhouse.
"I know there's a lot of personal connection and sentimental value to Camp Robinson, and I understand that and want to be sensitive to that," Carner said. "But the spending of state dollars to maintain a community events center is not the best use of our agency's resources."
Voice cracking, Sherry Resecker of Vilonia stood up to represent the Arkansas Trail Riders Association. Her group would be willing to pay a parking fee for using the park, she said.
"We only go there once a year, but it's a gem," she said. "I enjoy that area, and I love riding there."
Members from several other user groups also offered to pitch in, especially for the clubhouse.
Larry McMurry, who belongs to a dog group that uses the area, said the clubhouse is used to register guests for competitions and take refuge from bad weather.
"That clubhouse -- I don't really know how to tell you how important that was," he said. "We're a family group, we have wives and kids come out. At the end of the day, we try to do a nice dinner for a couple of hundred people. Without a building there, it would change the entire dynamic of what we do."
Others echoed McMurry's sentiment, including Julia Mays, who said her bird dog organization was considering creating a foundation or private nonprofit organization to help Camp Robinson run as usual.
The commission will discuss the issue further at its next board meeting on July 17 but will not vote on any changes this month.
State Desk on 07/09/2014