Little Rock is proposing to renovate playgrounds and other amenities at four parks in the city.
The city would apply for a $250,000 Arkansas Parks and Tourism grant. The Board of Directors will vote on whether to apply for the grant, which would benefit Kanis Park, Ottenheimer Park, Hanger Hill Park and Reservoir Park, at its regular meeting set for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
If the grant is approved, the city would provide matching funds of about $215,000 from its 2019 budget and about $35,000 from another pool of money set aside for grant-matching opportunities.
None of the four parks meet accessibility standards, according to a memo from City Manager Bruce Moore.
Kanis Park and Hanger Hill Park would get new playground gear and accessibility improvements, the memo states. Those parks were said to contain some of the oldest playground equipment in Little Rock's parks system.
At Tuesday's agenda meeting, Mayor Mark Stodola joked that the playground equipment in some city parks appeared to be from the Kennedy era, then noted more seriously that some ought to be set aside for historic preservation.
Kanis Park is at 820 S. Rodney Parham Road in Ward 6; Hanger Hill Park is between East 11th Street and East 13th Street, east of Hanger Street, in Ward 1.
Ottenheimer Park and Reservoir Park would get new playground equipment and accessibility improvements.
Ottenheimer Park is southeast of Frontage Road in Ward 2. Reservoir Park is east of Reservoir Road off Cantrell Road in Ward 4.
Little Rock Parks and Recreation Director John Eckart said those four parks are the ones the city was most likely to get funding for based on the criteria of the grant and those parks' need for safety and accessibility improvements.
City staff members have also met with neighborhood association members about a plan for Western Hills Park, which is in Ward 7 adjacent to Western Hills Avenue, according to Moore's office. The plan accommodates residents' desires that include a playground, a multiuse trail system, pavilions and fishing piers in the existing lake.
That park, a former golf course, was allotted $1 million from the 2012 sales tax initiative. City staffers are also working on an application for an Outdoor Legacy Grant to get up to $750,000 in additional funding for Western Hills Park.
Several million dollars from a voter-approved sales tax that began in 2012 will also be available for improvements to city parks.
A 10-year master plan for the city's park system will be completed by the end of the year, Moore's office said. Developed by a contractor, the plan will provide feedback about the direction and operations of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department as well as recommended upgrades.
Metro on 08/15/2018