North Little Rock Parks commissioners on Monday narrowly approved allowing a high-ropes adventure course to operate under a long-term contract in Emerald Park and the Big Rock Quarry Park that Emerald Park overlooks.
Loco Ropes, an Arkansas-based company, has run a similar high-ropes course and other activities out of the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View for the past five years. The business is described in company materials as "the first treetop adventure park" in the state.
The company aims to have its North Little Rock site up and running by March 2017, according to the proposal.
The commission approved the agreement 4-2. Commissioners Bruce Waller and Charles Jones voted no. Randall Bradley was absent.
The proposal includes high and low ropes courses, ropes bridges, zip lines, climbing structures and boulders, ropes assault and challenge courses and a business headquarters.
The on-site headquarters will be a building between 1,200-1,500 square feet that will include space for the sale of packaged food, beverages and merchandise. The building will also house offices, lockers, training and storage. There also will be a surrounding area for an outdoor base camp.
Commissioners asked owners and operators Judy and Bob Cox of Batesville about the proposed 21-year term for the contract with the city department, preferring a shorter term with multiyear extensions after review and renewals by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Also of concern was whether the area used for the business would prohibit people who hike, bike and picnic in the former quarry by the Arkansas River.
Jeff Caplinger, project coordinator for the city Parks and Recreation Department, said the operation wouldn't displace any regular users of the area now or exclude any portions of the parks.
"It will be just like it is now," Caplinger said, aside from the company being able to secure its headquarters.
Judy Cox told commissioners that the 21-year contract term is necessary to attract investors and that the company couldn't agree to a shorter lease term. Loco Ropes will pay the Parks Department $5,000 the first year, $7,500 the second year, $10,000 the third year and 5 percent of gross revenue with a $10,000 minimum in subsequent years.
"For us to get the money from our investors, we have to have that," Cox said of the contract's length. "I know what we need to make a go at this."
Because there aren't capabilities for water and sewer utilities in the quarry area, the company and the Parks Department are looking at using compost toilets, Caplinger said.
Loco Ropes will be responsible for any injuries or property damage resulting from its operation, according to the contract.
Metro on 04/19/2016