Parks & Trails January 2019 Newsletter

City of Hot Springs January 2019 Newsletter

Photo submitted by: Philip Wilkinson
Leading Lens Photography

111 Opera Street  1/1
P.O. Box 700 City Offices closed in observance of
New Year’s Day!
Hot Springs, AR 71902
 1/5
Call: 501-321-6871 National Bird Day - how many can you see today
Email: [email protected] at your favorite park or trail? (see pg. for bird
feeder craft).
Visit: www.cityhs.net
 1/8
Like us on Facebook: Arts Advisory Committee Meeting
Hot Springs Parks & Trails Parks & Trails Conference Room
111 Opera Street, Ste. A
Growing Healthy 12:00 PM
Communities-Hot Springs
1/17
Parks & Trails Advisory Committee
Parks & Trails Conference Room
111 Opera Street, Ste. A
5:00 PM

 1/21
City Offices closed in observance of
Martin Luther King Day!

 1/31
Inspire Your Heart with Art Day - why not take a
stroll along the Hot Springs Creek Greenway
Trail and view the Sculpture Garden near
Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace,
in honor of this fun day?

 1/31
Friends of the Parks meeting
Chamber of Commerce
659 Ouachita Ave.
11:30 AM

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The spirit of volunteerism is strong in Hot Springs, AR. We have enjoyed

working with many volunteer groups that have played a huge part in our accom-

plishing our tasks this past year. That includes several area schools, church-

es, civic groups, and non-profit organizations like Friends of the Parks

and the Garland County Master Gardeners!

We are so very grateful to every individual who willingly gives their time, talents,
energy, and knowledge to assist us with providing safe, beautiful parks, trails, and

greenspace for our citizens and visitors to enjoy.

We can’t do it without all of you! Don’t ever doubt that you have made a big differ-

ence in Hot Springs and we look forward to working with you again in the new
year!

Members of the Hot Springs
Youth Leadership stopped
by to visit the City’s
greenhouse at 236 Da-
vidson Drive. Landscape
Superintendent Brian Fisher
and Greenhouse Manager
Daryl Edwards gave them
a tour of the ground and
greenhouse and explained
about the care and use of
the trees, shrubs and
plants housed there.

Shane Robertson of Hot
Springs took this photo of
his kids before a ride along
the Hot Springs Creek
Greenway Trail.

The City recently dedicated
a new section of the trail at
Golf Links Road and resi-
dents and visitors have been
flocking to ride and walk the
newly opened addition.

City Attorney Brian Albright stands with family and
friends around a Magnolia tree that was planted, along
the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, in honor of his
mother Rena Verucchi who passed away last year.

Rena loved the game of tennis and played on a
team where she shared her passion for the game and
wonderful example of sportsmanship with others.

Her “tennis peeps” purchased the tree and had it
planted along the greenway trail with approval and
direction from the Hot Springs Parks & Trails
Department. A plaque that was placed near the tree
is shown here (left).

A dedication was held on December 6, 2018.

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…. The City of Hot Springs
Motorized Vehicles Noise Ordinance is

For your protection please be aware of the enforced from 10:00 PM
presence of FIRE ANTS. Although treated on a
regular basis, fire ants are particularly prone to Fireworks are NOT
allowed in any

We have recently seen a rise in trash
bags being found along the Hot Springs
Creek Greenway Trail. Parks & Trails
employees and Trail Watch Volunteers
as well as citizens and visitors to our
city have reported throwing these bags
in the trash.

We would like to encourage all of our
trail users to please place any and all
trash in the receptacles that are
provided throughout the length of
the trail corridor. We appreciate your
help in keeping the trail clean and
attractive for all users.

Use orange peel to create a hanging boat
to feed the birds in your yard and you’ll
have them signing like it’s spring! Here’s
how to do it.
1. Cut an orange in half and clean out the

fruit and pulp. Be careful not to tear
the rind.
2. Poke two holes across the diameter of the orange. Directly across from each
other.
3. Thread a string through and secure at the top.
4. Fill the orange with a mixture of peanut butter and bird seed or mix dried
berries, sesame sticks and sunflower seeds with lard. The birds in your yard will
love you for it!

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To renew your Friends of the Parks is a non-profit organization, formed in
membership 1994, dedicated to the development and stewardship of Hot
or become a Springs area public parks and trails. Friends has been an
“Park Friend” integral partner in development of the Hot Springs Creek
mail your annual Greenway Trail (HSCGT). Friends organizes fundraisers like
membership fee the Du for the Parks Duathlon each year with the proceeds go-
ing to completion of various projects in the parks and trail sys-
Family-$35 tem. They also provide expertise, time, and advocacy,
negotiate land acquisitions and title searches, and provide
Adult-$25 direct funding.

Youth-$10 Would you like to be a Friend of the Parks too? As a Park
Friend you can help to improve the quality of life for today
Business-$50 and for generations to come. See sidebar for details and
contact information. Become a Park Friend today!
Organization-$50

to: Friends of the Parks,
P.O. Box 996,
Hot Springs, AR 71902-0996
www.hsfriendsoftheparks.org

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Ken Freeman, aka “The Trail Guy”
Trails Coordinator

The Trail Guy hopes that each of you has found
joy in this Holiday Season, and are now ready to
face January 2019 with excitement and
anticipation of good-things-trail in the New Year.
The American Hiking Society promotes an
activity they have named First Day Hikes which
is intended to get trail enthusiasts out on a trail
on New Year’s Day. It is part of a nationwide
initiative led by America’s State Parks to
encourage people to get outdoors. On New
Year’s Day hundreds of free, guided hikes will
be organized in all 50 states. Locally, the
Ouachita Mountain Hikers will host a First Day
Hike and information can be found on their
website (www.omhikers.net) under activities.
Spa Pacers (www.arspapacers.com) has a New
Year’s Day Resolution Run for runners and
walkers and one of the options is a trail route.
But, if you miss one of those, I propose we expand the trail experience to be the 2019 First Week
Hikes. This way, you’re also not limited to just one trail route, for those, like me, that have a hard
time picking just one trail experience to start the New Year. Whatever your choice may be, just
celebrate 2019 by getting outside and walking, hiking, running, or biking on a trail.
I am happy to report that all of the trail update news is pretty positive. In spite of less than ideal
weather conditions, the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) trail building crew is
still making progress on finishing up the remaining trails that are part of the first phase of trails they
are building as part of the Northwoods Trails system, with a few more trails officially opening the
weekend before Christmas. For the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail (HSCGT), Phase 6A,
(Southern Trail Phase 1), funded by a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) 2016 grant, we are
still working on acquiring all of the right of way for the planned trail corridor. Hot Springs Friends of
the Parks acquired one of the three remaining right of ways needed, and the City has come to an
agreement with a property owner to purchase a second, which is fully in the flood plain and has a
waste water line across it. Hopefully, ongoing negotiations for the third right of way will soon be
successful, allowing us to move forward on that project.
The exciting news is that the City has received a December 14th Arkansas Department of
Transportation letter confirming that the City has been awarded a 2018 TAP grant for starting a
trailhead at the east end of Television Hill Road, which the City Board resolved to name the Jean
Wallace Wetlands Trailhead, and installing an 80’ pedestrian and bicycle bridge to connect to the
neighborhoods off of Tatum and Fontana Streets on the east side of Hot Springs Creek. City
officials will attend a workshop on January 15th to receive the paperwork to officially begin what will
be another exciting addition to the HSCGT. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR, and I look forward to
seeing you on the trails in 2019!

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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 1/4 Mile
No 1/2 Mile
Hill Wheatley Park - 688 Majestic Lodge Rd Natural Surface 2/3 Mile
No 1/2 Mile
Hinsley Park - Kingsway and Meadowlake Natural Surface Yes 1/4 Mile
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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Print form, fill out and mail it with your check
or bring it to 111 Opera Street, Suite A. or go online to www.cityhs.net
and fill out the electronic form then call 501-321-6871 to pay over the phone.

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