State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Meeting Summary
June 24, 2008
The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held June 19-20, 2008, at Fort Smith, Arkansas. For questions regarding this report, please contact Jana Greenbaum, communications manager, at 501-682-7602.
Corps of Engineer Campground Update:
The Little Rock District Corps of Engineers will probably have to close some of its campgrounds due to flood costs. The Vicksburg District has agreed to a rolling closure of campgrounds this fall and to a rolling opening in the spring of 2009. For more information, contact Richard Davies at 501-682-2535.
Crystal Bridges Report:
Gov. Mike Beebe, Alice Walton and Arkansas Parks and Tourism Department staff and Arkansas Economic Development Commission staff are planning a trip to New York to hold a reception announcing the opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in northwest Arkansas. For more information on the reception, contact Arkansas Tourism Director Joe David Rice at 501-682-1088. Direct media inquiries for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to Mitchell Communications Group, Inc. at 479-443-4673.
Lake Fort Smith State Park overlook named:
The Commission voted to name the day-use area overlook at the new Lake Fort Smith State Park after the late, former State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commissioner Polly Crews. Crews was from Fort Smith and an ardent support of the new state park. An interpretive plaque in her name will also be put up at the overlook. For more information, contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.
Dedication of new Lake Fort Smith State Park:
The dedication of Lake Fort Smith State Park in western Arkansas was held Thursday, June 19. The park reopened May 21, 2008, at its new site on the western side of 1,400-acre Lake Fort Smith. The park closed January 2, 2002, to be relocated due to combining of Lakes Fort Smith and Shepherd Springs into a single reservoir.
Sporting all new facilities, the 259-acre park features 30 campsites [20 Class AAA sites with water/50 amp electric/sewer and 10 Class B sites with water/30 amp electric]; a group lodge with great room and kitchenette that can accommodate up to 32 persons (16 in each wing); picnic sites; a pavilion; marina with boat rentals; double lane boat launch ramp; playground; 8,000-square-foot visitor center with exhibit gallery, meeting/classroom and gift shop; hiking trails (under construction) and other park support facilities. Park programs will be offered throughout the year by the park’s interpretive staff.
A trail link allows Lake Fort Smith State Park to once again serve as the western terminus of the Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail. The park’s new 2,660-square-foot swimming pool has an adjacent wading pool and a splash pad. The pool’s 2,251-square-foot bathhouse features changing areas, lockers, a snack bar and office. For more information, contact park superintendent Ron Gossage at 479-369-2469.
Lake Catherine State Park:
The Commission approved a five-year renewal of a Horseback Riding Concession Agreement. For more information, contact Joe Jacobs at 501-682-6923.
Village Creek Resort (VCR)-Proposed golf course opening plan:
The Commission voted to allow VCR to open the first nine holes of the golf course at Village Creek State Park on Aug. 1 and to open the second nine holes on Sept. 1 if the fairways and greens are ready. For more information, contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.
ERA/Longwoods Project Update:
Staff, ERA and Longwoods conducted several information gathering meetings across the state in June. There were 93 participants. For more information, contact Joe David Rice at 501-682-1088.
Tourism Development:
The Tourism Development section compiled and prepared the contents of the Fall/Winter 2008 edition of the Calendar of Events. The cover was prepared by CJRW and submitted for approval last month. For more information on the Calendar of Events, contact Donna Perrin at 501-682-1926.
Communications Section Familiarization Tours:
Communications Section staff lead familiarization tours throughout the state June 1-18. ADPT partnered with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau to host a chapter meeting for the Society of American Travel Writers in Little Rock June 5-8. Section members coordinated and escorted writers and photographers touring the state before and after the chapter meeting. Four pre-tours were given and one post-tour. Additionally, staff worked with Pol O’Conghaile from Ireland and five visitors from the United Kingdom traveling to Arkansas with the Saltmarsh group. For more information contact Jana Greenbaum at 501-682-7606.
Research and Information Services Section:
The Research and Information Services Section processed 59,964 requests for information during May, an increase of 22 percent over May 2007. The year-to-date total is 182,138, down 34.5 percent. There were 1,143 requests for retirement/relocation information in May 2008.
The Research & Information Services Section completed the 2007 Fall/Winter Internet Conversion Study. Fifty-five percent of respondents reported visiting Arkansas during the last 12 months.
Arkansas State Welcome Center visitation was 75,083 in May, down 10.9 percent from May 2007. January through May visitation was 256,940, down 12.3 percent compared to the same period last year. For more information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.
Aristotle Internet Plan:
Aristotle presented its annual plan for Arkansas.com site maintenance, upgrades and additional content. The Commission approved the plan. For more information, phone Jana Greenbaum at 501-682-7606.
Marketing/Advertising Items:
The Commission approved the media recommendations for the Fall Online Ad Campaign presented by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. For more information on the plan, contact Karen Mullikin, CJRW, at 501-975-6251.
The State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission will meet again July 16-17, 2008 in Russellville, Arkansas. For information on the meeting, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.
The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held June 19-20, 2008, at Fort Smith, Arkansas. For questions regarding this report, please contact Jana Greenbaum, communications manager, at 501-682-7602.
Corps of Engineer Campground Update:
The Little Rock District Corps of Engineers will probably have to close some of its campgrounds due to flood costs. The Vicksburg District has agreed to a rolling closure of campgrounds this fall and to a rolling opening in the spring of 2009. For more information, contact Richard Davies at 501-682-2535.
Crystal Bridges Report:
Gov. Mike Beebe, Alice Walton and Arkansas Parks and Tourism Department staff and Arkansas Economic Development Commission staff are planning a trip to New York to hold a reception announcing the opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in northwest Arkansas. For more information on the reception, contact Arkansas Tourism Director Joe David Rice at 501-682-1088. Direct media inquiries for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to Mitchell Communications Group, Inc. at 479-443-4673.
Lake Fort Smith State Park overlook named:
The Commission voted to name the day-use area overlook at the new Lake Fort Smith State Park after the late, former State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commissioner Polly Crews. Crews was from Fort Smith and an ardent support of the new state park. An interpretive plaque in her name will also be put up at the overlook. For more information, contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.
Dedication of new Lake Fort Smith State Park:
The dedication of Lake Fort Smith State Park in western Arkansas was held Thursday, June 19. The park reopened May 21, 2008, at its new site on the western side of 1,400-acre Lake Fort Smith. The park closed January 2, 2002, to be relocated due to combining of Lakes Fort Smith and Shepherd Springs into a single reservoir.
Sporting all new facilities, the 259-acre park features 30 campsites [20 Class AAA sites with water/50 amp electric/sewer and 10 Class B sites with water/30 amp electric]; a group lodge with great room and kitchenette that can accommodate up to 32 persons (16 in each wing); picnic sites; a pavilion; marina with boat rentals; double lane boat launch ramp; playground; 8,000-square-foot visitor center with exhibit gallery, meeting/classroom and gift shop; hiking trails (under construction) and other park support facilities. Park programs will be offered throughout the year by the park’s interpretive staff.
A trail link allows Lake Fort Smith State Park to once again serve as the western terminus of the Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail. The park’s new 2,660-square-foot swimming pool has an adjacent wading pool and a splash pad. The pool’s 2,251-square-foot bathhouse features changing areas, lockers, a snack bar and office. For more information, contact park superintendent Ron Gossage at 479-369-2469.
Lake Catherine State Park:
The Commission approved a five-year renewal of a Horseback Riding Concession Agreement. For more information, contact Joe Jacobs at 501-682-6923.
Village Creek Resort (VCR)-Proposed golf course opening plan:
The Commission voted to allow VCR to open the first nine holes of the golf course at Village Creek State Park on Aug. 1 and to open the second nine holes on Sept. 1 if the fairways and greens are ready. For more information, contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.
ERA/Longwoods Project Update:
Staff, ERA and Longwoods conducted several information gathering meetings across the state in June. There were 93 participants. For more information, contact Joe David Rice at 501-682-1088.
Tourism Development:
The Tourism Development section compiled and prepared the contents of the Fall/Winter 2008 edition of the Calendar of Events. The cover was prepared by CJRW and submitted for approval last month. For more information on the Calendar of Events, contact Donna Perrin at 501-682-1926.
Communications Section Familiarization Tours:
Communications Section staff lead familiarization tours throughout the state June 1-18. ADPT partnered with the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau to host a chapter meeting for the Society of American Travel Writers in Little Rock June 5-8. Section members coordinated and escorted writers and photographers touring the state before and after the chapter meeting. Four pre-tours were given and one post-tour. Additionally, staff worked with Pol O’Conghaile from Ireland and five visitors from the United Kingdom traveling to Arkansas with the Saltmarsh group. For more information contact Jana Greenbaum at 501-682-7606.
Research and Information Services Section:
The Research and Information Services Section processed 59,964 requests for information during May, an increase of 22 percent over May 2007. The year-to-date total is 182,138, down 34.5 percent. There were 1,143 requests for retirement/relocation information in May 2008.
The Research & Information Services Section completed the 2007 Fall/Winter Internet Conversion Study. Fifty-five percent of respondents reported visiting Arkansas during the last 12 months.
Arkansas State Welcome Center visitation was 75,083 in May, down 10.9 percent from May 2007. January through May visitation was 256,940, down 12.3 percent compared to the same period last year. For more information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.
Aristotle Internet Plan:
Aristotle presented its annual plan for Arkansas.com site maintenance, upgrades and additional content. The Commission approved the plan. For more information, phone Jana Greenbaum at 501-682-7606.
Marketing/Advertising Items:
The Commission approved the media recommendations for the Fall Online Ad Campaign presented by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. For more information on the plan, contact Karen Mullikin, CJRW, at 501-975-6251.
The State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission will meet again July 16-17, 2008 in Russellville, Arkansas. For information on the meeting, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"