Parks & Trails July 2019 Newsletter

City of Hot Springs July 2019 Newsletter

Table of Contents 2

Calendar: meetings and events 3

Pavilion Rentals 4

Seasonal Reminders 4

Northwoods Photo Contest 5

111 Opera Street Summer Concert Series 7
P.O. Box 700
Summer Lunch Programs 8
Hot Springs, AR 71902
Friends of the Parks 9
Call: 501-321-6871 Provided by Ned Skoog
Email: [email protected]
Park News 10
Visit: www.cityhs.net
Northwoods Full Moon RideSeries 15
Like us on Facebook:
Hot Springs Parks & Trails Trail Footnotes 16
Growing Healthy Communities- Provided by Ken Freeman

Hot Springs Trail Etiquette 18

OUR STAFF Trails in Your City Parks 19

Director Trail Watch Volunteer Program 20
Anthony Whittington
Landscape Superintendent Vandalism Reminder 21

Brian Fisher 2
Parks Superintendent

Larry Golden
Office Manager
Kathleen Fason

Secretary
Jennifer Shinn

• 7/2 JULY IS:
Tail Watch Volunteer Training,
(by appointment only) Parks & Recreation Month
111 Opera Street, National Blueberry Month
5:30 p.m. National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
• 7/4 National Picnic Month
City Offices are closed in observance of
Independence Day Special Days:

• 7/9 Independence Day 4
Arts Advisory Committee Meeting, World Population Day 11
Parks & Trails Conference Room, Fresh Spinach Day 16
111 Opera Street, Ste. A, National Hot Dog Day 17
12:00 p.m.
Hammock Day 22
• 7/18
Parks & Trails Advisory Committee, Parent’s Day 28
Parks & Trails Conference Room,
111 Opera Street, Ste. A, International Day 30
5:00 p.m. of Friendship

• 7/23
Urban Forestry Advisory Committee,
Parks & Trails Conference Room,
111 Opera Street, Ste. A,
6:00 p.m.

• 7/25
Friends of the Parks meeting
Chamber of Commerce
659 Ouachita Ave.
11:30 a.m.

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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…. Flowers in Parks and on Trails
Motorized Vehicles
are NOT allowed on are beautiful. Please leave
Trails.
them in place for all

For your protection please be aware patrons to enjoy!

of the presence of FIRE ANTS.

Although treated on a regular basis,

fire ants are particularly prone to be

active in parks and especially after a

rain shower. Please be alert!



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For more information or to fill out an
application go to www.cityhs.net

Series to run Memorial Day-Labor Day weekends!
Friday nights: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturdays: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sundays: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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Ned Skoog, Your Friends of the Parks board of directors often find
themselves busy working on a current project and looking
President toward trying to budget time for the next one.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t allow time to celebrate current
To renew your accomplishments like we should, or time to reflect on all
membership of the progress made to date on the Hot Springs Creek
or become a Greenway Trail (HSCGT). Fortunately, the Sponsors’
“Park Friend” Plaza dedication, on June 27th, organized by the Parks
mail your annual and Trails Department, provided us the opportunity, not
membership fee only to do that, but also gave us the chance to thank
Family-$35 some of the HSCGT supporters in person. It is pretty
Adult-$25 incredible to see all of the names of organizations,
Youth-$10 businesses, property owners, and individuals who have
Business-$50 worked together to get the HSCGT to where it is today
Organization-$50 (see photos on pages 10 &11). We encourage everyone
to: Friends of the Parks, to visit the Sponsors’ Plaza and celebrate all of the
P.O. Box 996, cooperation for a great cause that it represents. Now, we
Hot Springs, AR 71902-0996 just need to keep fostering that spirit of cooperation and
www.hsfriendsoftheparks.org garner more supporters as the City works to complete the
HSCGT and we look to continuing to connect more of the
City’s neighborhoods as envisioned in its Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan. And, as always, keep concen-
trating on getting our pathways “TO THE LAKE!”

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On Thursday, June 27, 2019 the Parks & Trails Ned Skoog, President of Friends of the Parks.
Department hosted a dedication ceremony for the Future HSCGT supporters!
newly completed Sponsor’s Plaza located on the Hot
Springs Creek Greenway Trail (HSCGT).

The ceremony honored those who donated time and/or
money in support of the HSCGT over the years. The
Plaza is at the corner of Valley and Maurice streets.
Parking is available on Goodwin Alley. We hope you
will visit soon!

Sponsor’s Plaza features a sculpture by Jeanfo
named “Equator” (1984), and three interpretive
panels that include the following:

• A list of more than 280 contributors to the HSCGT,
including businesses and organizations, city board
members and city staff, the Citizen Steering
Committee (1993), individuals and land donors.

• A detailed map of the HSCGT.

• A history of the Hot Springs Creek trail.

The Hot Springs Greenway Trail is a multipurpose
12-foot wide trail corridor that currently spans 2.5 miles
along Hot Springs Creek. When completed, it will run a
total of 4.2 miles. It offers alternate transportation,
recreation, cultural, natural, and educational opportuni-
ties. When completed, the trail will connect Historic
Downtown to a wetlands park at Lake Hamilton. No
motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail. Needless to
say it couldn’t be done with the enormous support of all
of you!

For more information about the Sponsor’s Plaza
Dedication or the HSCGT, contact us at 111 Opera
Street or 501-321-6871. You can also vis-
it www.cityhs.net/parks, or “Like” our page on Face-
book.

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L-R: Trail Watch Volunteers John Nichols
and Robert Reddish attended in their
Trail Watch vests.
Parks & Trails Director Anthony Whitting-
ton at the podium to open the ceremony.
City Trail Coordinator Ken Freeman
shows assists an attendee to locate
names on the Sponsor Name Panel.
Parks & Trails crews stand around the
Jeanfo sculpture that was beautifully
refurbished by P&T employee Chris
Baber last year.
A closer view of the intricate design of the
Jeanfo sculpture against the blue sky!

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On Thursday, June 13, 2019 the Parks &
Trails Department hosted a dedication
ceremony for the newly completed
Reverend James Donald Rice Park, 511
Pleasant Street.

We were thrilled to have his daughter
Donnellda Rice in town to speak at the
event. She said her father would have been
humbled as is her family by the dedication of
the park in his name.

Referring to a prophecy fulfilled, she quoted
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “There
will come a day when black children and
white children, children of all hues and
religions, will play together,” Rice said, “That
day has come!”

Additional speakers included Mayor Pat
McCabe, City Manager Bill Burrough, District
2 City Director Elaine Jones, President of
the Gateway Community Jean Lacefield,
NAACP member Elmer Beard, and Parks &
Trails Director Anthony Whittington.

Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey and
several officers were in attendance and
played with kids in attendance on the swings
and the full-sized basketball court. Others
sat visiting at picnic tables and on benches
in the shady provided by a large Sugarberry
Tree that was saved during construction. We
hope you will visit this beautiful new park
soon!

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Parks & Trails Landscape members Daryl
Edwards and Bill Morris work on the
flowerbeds that were installed in front of the
new Solid Waste Department. Many
citizens are unaware that Parks & Trails
designs and installs landscape areas for
many of the city buildings.
The low impact designs are perfect for
minimal upkeep while maintaining an
attractive front facing entrance for the
building.

We have reached the hottest months of the
year and we would just like to remind all of
our citizens and visitors to our parks and
trails to HYDRATE!

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Handrails have been installed at David F.
Watkins Memorial Tunnel Park, 811 Park
Avenue. Bids for the second phase of
construction in the park will be happening
soon and the project is scheduled to be
completed by year’s end.

Photos provided by Katie Yamauchi, City of Hot
Springs Public Information Department.

The Tick Tock sculpture by local artist
Eric Ober was acquired by the city in
2007 and has been a main piece at the
sculpture garden along the Hot Springs
Creek Greenway Trail since its construc-
tion. The sculpture was recently sent for
minor repairs and a new powder-coating.
Parks crews have now reinstalled the
piece at the sculpture garden.

Trail Watch Volunteer John Nichols with
his dog Lucy on the Hot Springs Creek
Greenway Trail. John was the first TWV
and has been instrumental in assisting
the Parks Department with keeping the
trail clean and safe for citizens and
visitors. Be sure to thank him for his
years of volunteer work on the trails if
you see him.

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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

Ken Freeman, The Trail Guy

On the 15th day of their 4000 mile bike ride
from Austin to Anchorage, the student orga-
nized and led Texas 4000 For Cancer riders
arrived in in Hot Springs Saturday afternoon in
3 waves. The first wave of 6 arrived about an
hour ahead of the others with swim suits in
their bike jersey back pocket and I got them to
the Quapaw Bath House as quickly as I could
after finding a parking spot for their bikes at the
Hale. The second wave of 6 arrived all smiles,
waited for the last group to arrive and after a
group photo, we slow rolled all of them up Bath
House Row around the fountain and back
down Central to First Methodist Family Life
Center.
First Methodist provided them with showers, a
place to spend the night, and with Lisa Reilly’s
help, an evening meal. Parkside Cycle and
Spa City Cycling generously funded breakfast
and take along food for Sunday morning with
which Lisa prepared a breakfast buffet with lots
of fruit, oatmeal, grits, crescent rolls, juice, cof-
fee, peanut butter, breakfast bars, dry cereal,

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and even a little Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Company trail mix. After their pre-ride
circle of sharing and ride dedications for the day, the riders departed in waves
around 7:30 a.m. on their way to Little Rock. My thanks to Parkside Cycle, Spa City
Cycling, First United Methodist, and to Lisa Reilly for making Texas 4000 riders feel
so welcome. They were on day 15 and just over 1,000 miles of a 70 day and 4,000
miles bike ride from Austin, TX to Anchorage, AK promoting cancer awareness,
prevention, treatment, and research. They were great at meeting and talking with
whomever they were around and eagerly listened to the stories shared with them
about friends and relatives of the people they met who were fighting cancer, in re-
mission, or who had lost their fight with cancer. Note in one of the photos the
names of people a rider was remembering that day written upside down on her
thigh so she could see the names on each pedal stroke. Best wishes to those won-
derful young riders and a wish for safe riding on their trek to Anchorage. Hopefully
we will have some of them come back to visit our city in the future.

Getting to start June off by celebrating National Trail
Day with the participants of the YMCA’s Superhero 2
Mile trail run and walk at Entergy Park was a treat for
the Trail Guy. There were about 138 participants,
which made for a great event. The YMCA has ex-
pressed interest in having their event as a National
trails Day event again next year, so mark your 2020
calendars.
While you’re marking calendars, make note that
there will be several opportunities to be on the North-
woods Trails as part of an organized event. Visit Hot
Springs is sponsoring a double event on July 6th,
consisting of a mountain bike group ride at 6:30 p.m.
followed by the showing of a movie at dark (about
8:30 p.m.). The award winning movie is titled Return
to Earth and focuses on how biking brings the rider
into enjoying the natural setting around him at the present moment. Bring a chair or
a ground blanket and some snacks, and get enmeshed in the 45 minutes of
interaction with nature, presented in this movie. Of course, hikers, walkers, and
runners are also welcome and will meet there at 5:30 p.m. to pick a route.
Similarly, walkers and runners can join others on the 2nd Monday of the month (July
8th) at 4:30 p.m. at the Northwoods Trailhead for a trail adventure. And, the North-
woods Trails will host their Full Moon ride activities on July 16th with a 6:30 p.m. ride
and social time following the ride. If you’re hitting a trail either, on foot or two
wheels, during the heat and humidity of a Hot Springs’ summer, please hydrate
before heading out, and take water with you. As always, the important thing is to
get outside on a trail and have fun this month. See you on a trail!

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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

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
1/4 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 1/5 mile
Yes 1 Mile
Playground Connector Trail Asphalt No 1/2 Mile
Pavilion on the Point Asphalt Yes 1/4 Mile
Sunnybrook Connector Trail Asphalt Yes
1/4 Mile
Family Park - 215 Family Park Rd Asphalt No 1/2 Mile
2/3 Mile
Hill Wheatley Park - 688 Majestic Lodge Rd Natural Surface No 1/2 Mile
Yes 1/4 Mile
Hinsley Park - Kingsway and Meadowlake Natural Surface 1/4 Mile

Wade Street Park - 300 Wade St Asphalt

Hot Springs Creek Greenway- Concrete Yes
Transportation Plaza Trail Asphalt Yes
Valley Street Creekwalk Concrete Yes
Jaycee Trail and Friendship Park Trail Asphalt Yes
Hollywood Trail Asphalt Yes
Blue Heron Trail
Asphalt Yes
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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