Parks & Trails March 2019 Newsletter

City of Hot Springs March2019 Newsletter

2018

Northwoods Full Moon 4
Ride Series

111 Opera Street Park News 5
P.O. Box 700 Thriving Community 5
Retirement 6
Hot Springs, AR 71902 Linden Park 6
Van Davis Memorial Run 6
Call: 501-321-6871 New Bench Installation 7
Email: [email protected] Trees and boulders added 8
Pavilion Reservations 9
Visit: www.cityhs.net Park Groundbreaking

Like us on Facebook: Trail Footnotes 11
Hot Springs Parks & Trails Opening Day on the Greenway 12
Growing Healthy Communities- Trail Etiquette 13
Trails in Your City Parks
Hot Springs
Trail Watch Volunteer Program 14
OUR STAFF
Bike Hot Springs! 15
Director
Anthony Whittington Spa Pacers Run Clinic 16
Landscape Superintendent
Iron Ranger Challenge 2019 17
Brian Fisher
Parks Superintendent SOFTBALL REGISTRATION!
Adult Coed Softball Registration 19
Larry Golden
Office Manager 2
Kathleen Fason

Secretary
Jennifer Shinn

• 3/12 This Month Is:
Arts Advisory Committee Meeting
Parks & Trails Conference Room National Irish American
111 Opera Street, Ste. A Heritage Month
12:00 PM National Nutrition Month
National Peanut Month
• 3/16-17 Red Cross Month
St. Patrick’s Day Parade activities going on
at Bridge Street in downtown Hot Springs! Special Days:

• 3/21 Employee Appreciation 1
Parks & Trails Advisory Committee
Parks & Trails Conference Room National Anthem Day 3
111 Opera Street, Ste. A
5:00 PM Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday 5

• 3/26 Ash Wednesday 6
Urban Forestry Advisory Committee
Parks & Trails Conference Room Daylight Savings 10
111 Opera Street, Ste. A
6:00 PM St. Patrick’s Day 17

• 3/28 Spring Equinox 20
Friends of the Parks meeting
Chamber of Commerce National Spinach Day 26
659 Ouachita Ave.
11:30 AM Take a Walk in the Park Day

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Wanna howl at the moon with the Northwoods crew? Shred Valkyrie and Blue Jay by the light of the

full moon? Well, turns out, you’ll have 10 chances to join others on a monthly FULL MOON GROUP RIDE in the
Northwoods.

The ride will be a no drop beginner to intermediate group ride. The route will depend on the skill level of the
participants. Rides will be around an hour on the trails. Interested riders will meet at the trailhead at 6:00 and begin
the ride by 6:30. It will be dark by the time riders return to the trailhead.

All riders must have a mountain bike in working order, helmet, front white light, rear red Light, back-up light source,
and water to hydrate.

After the ride, participants will continue the fun with a little grillin' and some tunes. Bring a chair! Don’t miss the fun...
Come shred with us by the light of the moon!

Sponsored by: Superior Bathhouse Brewery, Spa City Cycling, Parkside Cycle and Visit Hot Springs!

Who: All mountain bikers/All skill levels
What: Full Moon Rides
Where: Northwoods, Waterworks Trailhead
When: 5:30 p.m.
COST: FREE
Why: Full moons are awesome and mountain bikes are too.

*Contingent on weather, Follow Northwoods Trails - Hot Springs Trail Conditions Facebook group for weather
updates leading up to each event!

Full Schedule of Series includes (based on Farmers' Almanac):
March 20 - Full Worm Moon
April 19 - Full Pink Moon
May 18 - Full Flower Moon
June 17 - Full Strawberry Moon
July 16 - Full Buck Moon
August 15 - Full Sturgeon Moon
September 14 - Full Harvest Moon
October 13 - Full Hunter’s Moon
November 12 - Full Beaver Moon
December 12 - Full Cold Moon

Parks & Trails Director Anthony
Whittington presented a certificate
from the Arkansas Coalition for
Obesity Prevention (ArCOP) to Hot
Springs Mayor Pat McCabe at a
recent City Board Meeting. ArCOP
recognizing participating communities
in Arkansas with one of three level of
achievement; Emerging, Blossoming,
and Thriving. Hot Springs has
been recognized as a “Thriving” com-
munity again this year. Successful
participation in the program opens
doors for additional grant
opportunities

Ken Edwards and his wife Yvette at the Parks & Trails Parks & Trails Supervisor Ken
employee Christmas dinner last year. Edwards, aka Mr. Santa, retired last
year after 16 years of service. He was
instrumental in the improvements
made to the Holiday Lights Displays in
the downtown area. He organized and
oversaw the schedule for installation of
the displays each year. He also
programmed the music and lighting
sequences and was in charge of
ordering new displays and replacing
old lighting with new LED lighting.
Thanks for ALL that you have done for
Christmas in Hot Springs Ken!

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Parks crews recently installed new
wooden fencing at Linden Park along
the soccer fields. These fields get
used throughout the year by the
general public, including a local
Hispanic Soccer League. Stay tuned
for more improvements to this park
throughout the year

National Park College hosted the 7th
Annual Van Davis Memorial 5k run at
Baseball Trail Park, 1201 Whittington
Ave on Saturday, Feb. 16. Van Davis
taught at National Park more than 30
years and this event is held each
year to honor him and raise funds for
the Van Davis Memorial Scholarship.

Parks & Trails crews began pouring
the concrete pad for a new sitting ar-
ea along the newest section of the
Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail. A
bench will be installed on the pad
which comes as a generous donation
from the Garland County Master Gar-
deners. We have several projects
around town with the GCMG’s.

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Parks & Trails crews continue to
construct the Sponsor’s Plaza along
the greenway. They added five Nellie
R. Stevens Hollies and flowering
Dogwoods to the landscape recently.
They also installed boulders to help
define the area.
Photos were provided by Landscape
Superintendent Brian Fisher.
If you see one of your Parks & Trails
employees downtown, in a city park, or
along the greenway trail, please take a
moment to share with them how much
you appreciate all they are doing to
beautiful Hot Springs and keep
residents and visitors happy!

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L-R: P&T Director Anthony Whittington, Mayor Pat McCabe, CDBG committee member Janice Davis, Gateway
Community Association president Jean Lacefield, Former City Alderman Elmer Beard, City Manager Bill
Burrough, Roanoke Baptist Church member Andre Jackson, and HSPD Cpl. Joey Williams.

The City of Hot Springs Parks & Trails Department hosted a
groundbreaking for the new Reverend James Donald Rice
Park on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. The
park, located at 511 Pleasant Street, will include a full-size
basketball court, concrete sidewalks, benches, a water
fountain, and rain garden during phase 1 development.
Phase 2 will add lights, swings and decorative fencing.

Rev. Rice was a community leader and civil rights activist in
our community during the 1960s. He moved his family to Hot
Springs in 1962 when he accepted the position of Senior
Pastor of Roanoke Baptist Church. As President of the Hot
Springs chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Rice was
instrumental in negotiating the proceedings that led to the integration of Hot Springs schools.
He and his family lived in both the Pleasant and Garden Street areas in the heart of the
Gateway Community. Former City Alderman Elmer Beard, a lifetime member of the HS

chapter of the NAACP, pointed out that Rice had lived in the house just two lots away from the
park. Jean Lacefield, president of the Gateway Community Association, said she was excited to
see the park’s construction being after three years of planning, applying for funding, etc.
Construction of the park was started the next day by Heller Construction Company and is
expected to be completed in about six months. Funding for phase 1 was provided by the
Community Development Block Grant program. P&T Director Anthony Whittington said this year
the city will apply for additional grant funding to complete phase two.
Many people present at the groundbreaking noted the close proximity to the police department,
the park is directly behind it, and HSPD Cpl. Joey Williams said that officers were looking
forward to playing games with the residents in the neighborhood! “To say that we are excited is
an understatement,” Williams said.
Mayor McCabe and City Manager Bill Burrough both pointed out the importance of pocket parks
for neighborhood revitalization and to bring families back into communities.

District 2 City Board Director Elaine Jones
stands with Jean Lacefield after the
groundbreaking ceremony.

HSPD Cpl. Joey Williams
stands with City Trails
Coordinator Ken Free-
man after the ground-
breaking ceremony.

Renting a city park pavilion is quick and easy.
Cost is minimal and clean up will be, too!

• Birthday Parties
• Family Reunions
• Wedding Receptions
• Baby Showers
• Retirement Farewells
• Fishing Derbies

Cost to reserve pavilions:
$10 per hour for city residents
$20 per hour for non-city residents

Additional fees may apply for large groups and special events. Please refer to our
Reservation Policy for fee schedules or call the Parks and Trails Department at
501-321-6871 for more information.

To make your reservation, call or come by the Parks and Trails Department at 111 Opera Street,
or fill out an interactive online form at www.cityhs.net. Reservations must be made a least two
(2) weeks prior to your event date. Postings in the information kiosks of each park reflect who
has a pavilion reserved and when each week (Monday - Sunday).

Please Remember…. For your protection please be aware Flowers in Parks and on Trails
Motorized Vehicles of the presence of FIRE ANTS. are beautiful. Please leave
are NOT allowed on Although treated on a regular basis, them in place for all
Trails. fire ants are particularly prone to be patrons to enjoy!
active in parks and especially after a
rain shower. Please be alert!

Learn more about Opening Day for Trails:
www.railstotrails.org/openingday
#RTCOpeningDay

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More and more Hot Springs residents and visitors are flocking to parks and trails for fitness and
fun! Whether you are on the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail or a city park trail, it’s good to
follow these simple etiquette rules so everyone has a safe and enjoyable time on the trails.
Be Safe
•Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle
•Use bicycle lights and reflectors after dusk/before dawn
•Wear bright or light colored clothing so you’re easily seen
•Be aware of your surroundings
•Carry a charged cell phone and proper identification
•Communicate to family and friends where you’re going
•Carry water
•Utilize the buddy system when possible
•Observe posted park rules and hours
•Keep an eye on children
•Travel at a safe speed
•Slow down on curves
•Do not ride on wet or muddy nature trails
•Dismount and walk you bike on steep nature trails to avoid locking your breaking or skidding
Stay to right and pass with care
•Always pass on the left
•Ring a bell or give clear, verbal warning to nearby trail users before passing
•Yield to oncoming traffic when passing
•Bikes yield to pedestrians
•Single file in groups
•Motorized vehicles are prohibited on trails except motorized wheelchairs
Be Courteous
•Stay on the trails to protect vegetation and minimize erosion
•“Leave No Trace”- carry out what’s carried in
•Do not disturb wildlife
•Keep to the edge when stopped to allow others to pass
Be Responsible with pets
•Keep all pets on a short leash
•Pick-up pet waste

Trails In Your City Parks

Park Name and Location Surface Type ADA Length

Baseball Trail Park - 1201 Whittington Ave Asphalt Yes 1/6 Mile
Yes 1/4 Mile
Chattanooga Park - 530 Chattanooga St Asphalt
1/5 Mile
Desoto Park - 1700 Park Ave Asphalt Yes
1/5 mile
Family Park - 215 Family Park Rd Asphalt Yes
1/4 Mile
Entergy Park - 530 Lakepark Dr Asphalt Yes 2/10 Mile
North Loop Trail Asphalt Yes 3/4 Mile
Wildlife Observation Trail
Natural Surface No 1/5 Mile
Water Tower Loop Trail
1/2 Mile
Lakefront Trail Natural Surface No 1/10 Mile
1/10 Mile
Fenceline Trail Natural Surface No 1/10 Mile
3/10 Mile
Eagle Scout Trail Natural Surface No 1 Mile
1/2 Mile
Playground Connector Trail Asphalt Yes 1/4 Mile
Pavilion on the Point Asphalt No
Sunnybrook Connector Trail Asphalt Yes
No
Hill Wheatley Park - 688 Majestic Lodge Rd Natural Surface
No
Hinsley Park - Kingsway and Meadowlake Natural Surface Yes

Wade Street Park - 300 Wade St Asphalt

Hot Springs Creek Greenway- Concrete Yes 1/4 Mile
Transportation Plaza Trail Asphalt Yes 1/2 Mile
Valley Street Creekwalk Concrete Yes 2/3 Mile
Jaycee Trail and Friendship Park Trail Asphalt Yes 1/2 Mile
Hollywood Trail Asphalt Yes 1/4 Mile
Blue Heron Trail
Asphalt Yes 1/4 Mile
Utility Service Center Trail

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Improve the quality of life in Hot Springs by providing
and modeling proper trail etiquette and safety as
well as assisting users in trail navigation.

A 30 minute information class where you will receive
a vest and supplies will take place on the second
Tuesday of each month, March-September.

To sign-up call Kathleen at 501-321-6871 or
email [email protected]. For more information about
the Trail Watch program and proper trail etiquette go
to www.cityhs.net and look under the Parks & Trails

Department for Trail Watch.

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BikeHotSprings.com is the place to
go online for information and maps
of not only the Northwoods Trails
but all trails in and around Hot
Springs, AR. From intermediate
to advanced, there is a trail for
everyone who wants to get outside
and walk, run, or ride the trails!

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