Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Meeting

The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held October 18-19, in West Memphis, Arkansas. For questions regarding this report, please contact Jana Greenbaum, communications manager, at (501) 682-7606.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mid South Fair Proposal

The Commission voted to draft a resolution in support of this project designed to entice the Mid-South Fair to relocate to Marion, AR. There are two other potential sites in consideration – Millington TN and Tunica, MS. The fair annually generates state tax revenues in excess of $500,000. Seventeen states are represented in the livestock show, which is the largest in the South. Project proponents plan to create a year-round event center – similar to AR State Fairgrounds. Local investment of $3 million is required for land and infrastructure to support the move. Proposals are due December 1 with a decision expected during the first 2-3 months of 2008. Fair must be in new location by 2009. For more information, contact Kay Brockwell at (870) 739-5414.

Corps of Engineers Marina Flotation Regulations

The commission voted to draft a letter outlining concerns with proposed Corps of Engineers’ regulation requiring marina owners to retrofit docks with new and uniform flotation material that is more environmentally friendly. For more information, contact Montine McNulty at (501) 376-2323.

PARKS DIVISION

Renewal of Grant Partnership Agreements

The Commission voted to renew two grant partnership agreements with Arkansas’s media associations – the Arkansas Broadcasters Association and the Arkansas Press Association. The broadcasters’ program has contributed approximately $15.6 million in advertising value to Arkansas State Parks since 1987. The state has invested $1.1 million in the program. The State Parks division has received over $786,000 in advertising value year to date and received $1.1 million in advertising value in 2006.

The commission also voted to renew the state parks’ partnership agreement with the Arkansas Press Association. This program is a two-to-one ad match with the association’s membership, and yields $150,000 in advertising value annually in exchange for State Parks’ $75,000 investment. The APA’s partnership with the state has provided $2.3 million in advertising value since its inception in 1988. For more information, contact Joe Jacobs at (501) 682-6923.

Millwood State Park – Lake Update

Lake sedimentation has accelerated at a pace 3-4 decades in advance of the Corps original projections. Invasive lake vegetation and reducing lake depths have resulted in diminished recreational opportunities for boating and fishing on Millwood Lake. Proposed solutions to the problem include more frequent winter drawdowns, application of herbicides and biological agents. The lake’s deteriorating condition has had a negative economic impact on nearby communities and tourism in the area. Partnerships have been established with a variety of state and federal agencies and citizen groups to address the problems with the lake. For more information, contact Stan Graves at (501) 682-6930.

Village Creek State Park: Village Creek Resort Plan Update

Preliminary concept plans for the resort were reviewed by the State Parks Committee of the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. Proposed developments by Village Creek Resort, LLC include a clubhouse, 17 villas and presidential suite (35 keys), pool and spa, and conference center with restaurant. The first 18 holes of the 27 hole Andy Dye Design golf course have been completed and are slated to open summer/fall 2008, along with the clubhouse. The remaining 9 holes and amenities will follow. For more information, contact Stan Graves at 501-682-7743 or Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.

TOURISM DIVISION

Communications Section

The Southeast Outdoor Press Association held its annual convention in North Little Rock October 2-7. Seven outdoor writers/photographers took advantage of state-sponsored familiarization tours in Arkansas. The Caribbean chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers will hold its annual conference in Little Rock June 2-6, 2008. Both of these groups are expected to generate positive publicity for tourism in Arkansas.

The department’s chief photographer, Chuck Haralson, acted as the event photographer for the Little Rock Nine during the recent dedication ceremonies for the Central High visitor center and related events. Images have been made available to media throughout the country via the department’s media site – www.Arkansasmediaroom.com

Representatives from www.Geocaching.com, the international Web site that posts all coordinates related to geocaching, will be in Arkansas Oct.30- Nov.2 to audit the state’s geocaching program as a possible model for commercial geocaching projects in the future. For more information on the communications section’s activities contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.

Research & Information Services Section

The Research & Information Services Section processed 39,666 requests for information during Sept. 2007, a decrease of 30.9% from Sept. 2006. The total of inquiries processed year-to-date by the section is 448,843, an increase of 7.7% from last year.

Arkansas State Welcome Center visitation was 70,228 in Sept., down 6.7% from Sept. 2007. January –September visitation is 674,471, down 2.3%. For additional information on these reports and the state’s tourism research, contact Joanne Hinson at (501) 324-1520.

Tourism Development Section

Work was completed on developing the rule for Act 1745 – Arkansas Festival Grant, and was reported to the Arkansas Legislative Council committee meeting on Rules and Regulations on Oct. 4. The funds ($35,000) will be payable from the General Improvement Fund. Applications submitted can range from $5,000 to $35,000 in funds requested.

Nominations for the Henry Awards are in the mail and due back to the tourism development section on Oct. 31. The awards, presented annually to members of the tourism industry for special achievement, will be presented during the 2008 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Rogers in March of next year. For more information on tourism development’s activities and initiatives, contact Donna Perrin at (501) 682-1926.

Group Travel Section

The section recently completed a second carp FAM tour with tour operator Martin Founds and famous British angler John Wilson. The duo and a third guest caught several fish in the 40 lb. range, and they were particularly impressed with Lake Chicot State Park in Lake Village, AR and The Elms Plantation in Altheimer, a property that has served traditionally as a duck club. For more information on the Group Travel Section’s activities and upcoming events, contact Mindy Hawes at (501) 682-1219.

Internet-related Items

Arkansas.com ranked second among all state tourism Web sites for the month of September, from fourth place in August. Arkansas has remained number 1 among its competitive set (contiguous states) for the year. 63.8% of all traffic to Arkansas.com comes from outside the Natural State’s borders. The site saw a 23.1% (350,997 visitors) increase to members of Arkansas’s tourism industry from Arkansas.com. This follows a year of solid gain in referrals for the industry from the site for a year-to-date total of 3,593,481 visitors, or an increase of 99.9%. For more information on the performance of Arkansas.com and related statistics, contact Jonathon Eudy at (501) 374-4638.

Marketing/advertising Items

The commission approved image and copy revisions in the state’s upcoming marketing campaign that were requested following the annual presentation in September. For more information on the state’s tourism advertising campaign, contact Karen Mullikin at CJRW at (501) 975-6251.

Miscellaneous

The West Memphis Welcome Center is the second busiest of the 13 locations, following Texarkana. It has served 15.5% of all State Welcome Center visitors statewide so far this year. That translates to 104,446 visitors year to date this year. The latest 2% tax report (July) for Crittenden County collections were $147,256.24.

NOTE: The next meeting of the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission will be November 15-16, 2007 at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.