State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Meeting Summary

State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Meeting Summary


Feb. 19, 2009


The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held Feb. 19, 2009, at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. For questions regarding this report, please contact Gloria Robins, executive assistant, at 501-682-7614.


Executive Director’s Report

Executive Director Richard W. Davies reported that Arkansas Parks and Tourism is tracking a number of bills in the legislative session, including several advertising and promotion tax issues, a statewide Spring Break calendar, a tourism incentive bill, a minimum wage bill and boating laws.

The legislative dinner, hosted by Arkansas Tourism Development Foundation, Friends of the Arkansas Department of Heritage, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation, Arkansas Game and Fish, Arkansas Hospitality Association and the Nature Conservancy is slated for March 3. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.

The commission approved leaving the per diem for commission members at $65. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.


Tourism Division

Assistant Tourism Director Nancy Clark said she is still seeking sponsors for the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The theme of the 35th annual conference is Arkansas Destinations: Welcome to The Natural State. The conference is scheduled for March 15-19 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Speakers include Governor Mike Beebe, Harry Paul and Dr. Nate Booth. For more information, contact Nancy Clark at 501-682-1120.

The commission received the 2009 Arkansas Vacation Kit, which includes the Arkansas Tour Guide, containing information on attractions, golf, the arts, entertainment, antiquing, history and heritage, and family fun; the State Parks Guide; a Highway Map; Calendar of Events; and an Arkansas Adventure Guide. The Adventure Guide has information on hiking trails, campgrounds, float streams and outfitters, and wilderness areas. The Vacation Kits are available to the public via the www.Arkansas.com or by phoning 1-800-NATURAL.

Group Travel

Group Travel staff have been coordinating and assisting with the upcoming Bank Travel Conference to be held in Little Rock at the Statehouse Convention Center on Feb. 19-21, 2009. Thirty tourism leaders from across the state will participate in the event. This conference consists of bank travel clubs from across the country looking for travel itineraries for 2010 and 2011. A meeting of the Arkansas delegates was held in Little Rock at the Arkansas Hospitality Association to make plans on how the tourism division could partner for this event and show off what the regions have to offer the motorcoach market.

Travel South USA will be held in Orlando April 4-8, 2009 and 14 tourism leaders are attending this year. For more information, contact Renee Robison at 501-682-1219.


Tourism Development

The Arkansas Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study for a Columbia County Equine Arena was completed and delivered on Feb. 13, on schedule, and is due to be submitted to the Tourism Development office on March 16 along with the city’s summary, consultant’s invoice and completed request for payment form for the grant.

Donna Perrin and Kristine Puckett attended the Arkansas Festivals & Events Association’s 25th annual conference on Jan. 24-26 in Fort Smith. An intensive hands-on workshop titled “Using Social Media” kicked off the conference. Presentations and roundtables featured Certified Festival & Event Executives from other states. Puckett was one of the conference organizers and speakers. She delivered her popular program, “Three Conferences in 45 Minutes.” The Entertainer’s Showcase featured eight varied acts. At the ALFie (Arkansans Love Festivals) Awards Ceremony and Luncheon, Conway’s Toad Suck Daze was named Festival of the Year. A news release naming all the recipients can be found at www.ArFEA.org.

For more information, contact Kristine Puckett or Donna Perrin at 501-682-1676.


Research and Information Services

Arkansas State Welcome Center visitation was 35,977 in January, up 4.9 percent from January 2008.

The Research & Information Services Section processed 11,204 requests for information during January 2009, a decrease of 18.2 percent from January 2008. January request for retirement/relocation information were 491, a decrease of 21.1 percent. For more information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.


Communications Section

The 2009 Media Kit launched on Feb. 1 and can be seen on www.ArkansasMediaRoom.com. For the first time, a PowerPoint of the Media Kit containing stories and pictures will be available.

Communications Manager Dena Woerner started an Arkansas Tourism Facebook page. Staff members enter information and links on the site daily. Woerner said the presence on Facebook hits a new market of young people and use of the social networking site drives people to www.Arkansas.com.

Current projects the communications section is working on include: updating all city listings on www.Arkansas.com and revamping content regarding kids, girlfriend getaways and culinary themes on the state Web site.


Aristotle

Social networking as an aspect of Web site visitation is gaining momentum, Jonathon Eudy reported. Arkansas currently has MySpace and Facebook pages. Aristotle will present information on social networking at the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Projects in progress include girlfriend getaways, Arkansas kids, dining, industry insiders, photo gallery archive, and birding trail. For more information, contact Jonathon Eudy at 501-374-4638.


CJRW

The commission approved media buys regarding the See Arkansas First campaign, Spring/Summer 2009 cable television, and Hispanic cable television. CJRW also reported on its Fall/Winter 2008-2009 television post buys.

The See Arkansas First program will begin in April in partnership with the Arkansas Broadcasters Association, River City RV, Petit Jean Meats, Coca-Cola and Lewis and Clark. Live radio remotes at locations where the See Arkansas First RV travels are being scheduled throughout the state.

For more information, contact Karen Mullikin or Carrie Orahood at 501-975-6251.


Parks Division

Loco Ropes Agreement – Ozark Folk Center
The commission reviewed contract language for a concession lease and operating agreement with Loco Ropes, LLC., a high ropes course operation. The contract, with some amendments, was approved. The commissioned rejected a contract with Loco Ropes that asked for the right-of-first refusal. For more information, contact Joe Jacobs at 501-682-6923.


Arkansas Craft School – Ozark Folk Center
The commission listened to an update regarding the Arkansas Craft School, an educational arm of the Arkansas Craft Guild. The mission of the school is to educate aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the creative economy. The artistic focus is traditional and contemporary two and three dimensional arts and crafts, including forms in metal, clay/ceramics, fiber, wood, glass and other media. The school is in partnership with Ozark College, which will provide accreditation for continuing education and guidance in curriculum design, and the Ozark Folk Center, which would provide teaching studio space, student lodging and food services. For more information, contact Grady Spann at 870-269-3851.

NCSA Grant Partnership Program
The commission approved the Spring 2009 television and radio spots for the NCSA Grant Partnership Program between Arkansas State Parks and Arkansas Broadcasters Association. For more information, contact Joan Ellison at 501-682-2873.


Ice Storm Report
The huge ice storm in late January impacted 17 state parks – Bull Shoals-White River, Crowley’s Ridge, Davidsonville, Devil’s Den, Hobbs, Jacksonport, Lake Charles, Lake Fort Smith, Lake Frierson, Lake Poinsett, Mammoth Spring, Mount Nebo, Ozark Folk Center, Petit Jean, Powhatan, Prairie Grove Battlefield, Withrow Springs - across the northern part of Arkansas. Damage ranges from minor to extensive tree damage and extended power outages requiring these parks to close to the public. To date, eight parks have areas that remain closed due to power outages and hazardous tree damage.

Clean-up of debris and repair of damaged structures is currently underway by park crews. Contract work is underway at Prairie Grove Battlefield and Mammoth Spring State Parks. The goal is to have all parks re-opened to the public by mid-March.

On Jan. 29, FEMA announced an emergency declaration for 49 counties in Arkansas. All 17 parks are within these counties. On Feb. 13, a “Request for Public Assistance” was filed with FEMA for all 17 locations. This request will begin the process of federal financial assistance for clean-up and repair expenses. For more information, contact Mac Balkman at 501-682-7639.