State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Summary

The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held January 19, 2012, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock. For questions regarding this report, please contact Gloria Robins, executive assistant, at 501-682-7614.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

The following revisions were made to the 2012 Meeting Schedule: the April meeting will be on April 12 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. The location of the October and November meetings were revised. October will be at Village Creek State Park and Eureka Springs will host the November meeting. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed changing operations at 29 Corps of Engineers parks, including closing 13 campgrounds, four partial campgrounds, four day use areas, one partial day use area, and 10 boat ramps. Also under consideration is making the recreation season shorter at many additional parks. A series of public workshops to discuss these proposals and solicit public input is being scheduled for February at Piedmont, Mo., and at Mountain Home, Heber Springs, Russellville, and Ozark, Ark. Workshop times, dates and locations will be announced when they are finalized. The Commission directed the staff to send a resolution in opposition of more closing of Corps facilities. For more information, contact Richard W. Davies at 501-682-2535.

TOURISM DIVISION

The Commission voted to renew the contact with CJRW for another year beginning July 1, 2012. For more information, contact Joe David Rice at 501-682-1088.

The Professional Association of Innkeepers International Conference will be held Jan. 23-26 at the Statehouse Convention Center and Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. The Department of Parks and Tourism is sponsoring P. Allen Smith as a major speaker. For more information, contact Kerry Kraus at 501-682-1925.

The 38th annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be held March 4-6 in West Memphis. The Conference will be at Southland Gaming and Racing and the Holiday Inn. Registration packets will be mailed the week of January 23 or can be viewed on line at http://www.arkindustryinsider.com . For more information, contact Dottie Boyles at 501-682-1088.

Arkansas will host Travel South Showcase in Little Rock in 2013. For more information contact Renee Robison at 501-682-1219.

The “deconstruction” has begun of the old hotel in Helena-West Helena where the new Arkansas Welcome Center will be built. The West Memphis center is expected to be completed in July. For more information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.

Kat Robinson has joined the department as the Communications Manager. She can be reached at kat.robinson@arkansas.gov or 501-682-7602.

Upcoming Arkansas.com projects include the redesign of the Hot Deals App for iPhones and creating one for iPads and Droids, consumer e-newsletter redesign, and a major revamp of the Department’s mobile site to make it more like an app.

Strategy for 2012 includes increasing exit links and cross promotions, redesign for Hot Deals, add main page calls to action, focus some SEOs on the ALS and social media sites. The Department received the 2011 MarCom Gold National Award for the Arkansas dining site. For more information contact Kat Robinson at 501-682-7602.

The spring summer print and broadcast ad campaign has been updated to include Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and any references to the Ozark Medieval Fortress in Lead Hill were removed. The geocaching ads include longitude and latitude numbers; and will be added to ad photos on Arkansas.com. For more information contact Karen Mullikin at CJRW 501-975-6251

ARKANSAS STATE PARKS REPORT

The Commission approved the Division’s Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) FY 13 grant request for renovation and improvement projects throughout the state park system. For additional information contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.

The Commission approved certificates of appreciation for two retiring Arkansas State Parks (ASP) staff: James Harvey, Assistant Chief of Force Account (28 years); and James Mullins, Historic Preservation Specialist, Park Interpreter and Park Superintendent (35 years). For additional information contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.

Stan Graves provided a Capital Improvements Progress Report noting that $29.5 million in projects are underway across the ASP system including: Mississippi River State Park Visitor Information Center; renovation of Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park; and the planned renovation of Queen Wilhelmina Lodge at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Graves also reported $134.2 million in construction has been completed from Amendment 75 funding, in conjunction with $65 million completed from ANCRC funding. For additional information contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.

Greg Butts provided an annual report from Crater of Diamonds State Park (CDSP) stating 29,906 diamonds have been found since the park’s opening in 1972.As a follow-up to a CDSP diamond find of March 20, 2011, the “Silver Moon” has recently been cut and the Gemological Institute of America rated the Silver Moon close to a perfect diamond with excellent color, clarity, polish and symmetry. The 2.44 carat diamond found at CDSP is now a beautiful 1.06 carat pear-shaped diamond worth an estimated $21,000. For additional information contact Joan Ellison at 501-682-2873.

Greg Butts provided the park geocache report advising that 8,932 park caches have been found since the origin of the program in 2008 with 41 people having found all of the caches. Geocaching is an innovative and unique way for visitors to connect with state parks. For additional information contact Joe Jacobs at 501-682-6923.

Greg Butts reported that the Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce awarded Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park “2011 Business of the Year.” The Chamber advised the park brings in thousands of visitors to the city and those visitors shop at local businesses. For additional information contact Park Superintendent Jessee Cox at 479-846-2990.

Greg Butts reported that America State Parks held a nationwide “First Day Hike” event to promote physical fitness and connecting families, youth and visitors alike to the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on January 1, 2012.ASP participated in the event by offering a variety of trail hikes at 14 state parks throughout the state. While 258 visitors hiked 361 miles of trails in Arkansas, over 14,000 people hiked over 30,000 miles in 400 state parks across the country. For additional information contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.

Greg Butts reported that an Eagle Awareness program was held at Bull Shoals-White River State Park January 6 -7, 2012.The program included birds of prey demonstrations, along with information on various vultures, owls, and hawks and the importance of the birds. Park staff reported the event was a great success reaching over 2,600 students, with a total attendance over 5,500 people. For additional information contact Park Superintendent Tracy King at 870-445-3629.

The February meeting of the State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commission will be February 16 at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.