State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commission January 18 Meeting Summary
January 31, 2007
Zoie Clift, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held January 18, 2007, in Bismarck, Arkansas at DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge. For questions regarding this report, please contact Jana Greenbaum, communications manager, at (501) 682-7606.
STATE PARKS DIVISION
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
The commission approved a memorial plaque recognizing the 100 Anniversary of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which acquired the first 9.75 acres of the original Battlefield Park. For more information contact park superintendent Jessee Cox at (479) 846-2990.
FY08 Arkansas Natural & Cultural Resource Council (ANCRC) Grant
The commission approved the Division’s grant request for $8.2 million. The request is for priority renovation, improvement and land acquisition projects throughout the park system. For more information contact Stan Graves, manager Planning and Development at (501) 682-1633.
Petit Jean State Park
The commission approved Omni Air Charter of Little Rock as the FBO Airport Operator for operation and maintenance of the airport at the park. This included flexibility for a 5 year agreement. For more information contact Greg Butts at (501) 682-7743.
Village Creek State Park
Updates on Village Creek Resort’s project financing and plans were discussed. The commission approved extending the deadline until March 1, 2007 to provide adequate time for VCR to procure financing for the resort development. So far, $5.3 million has been spent by Arkansas State Parks on golf course construction. For more information contact Greg Butts at (501) 682-7743.
TOURISM DIVISION
Arkansas Image Book
The commission approved certificates of appreciation for Chuck Haralson and Bernie Jungkind for their work on a new edition of scenic photography in Arkansas. The staff will submit a distribution plan for the books in February.
Governor’s Conference
The theme for the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be “Marketing Makes Memories.” The conference will take place March 4-6 in Hot Springs. For more information contact Nancy Clark at (501) 682-1120.
Southeast Tourism Society
The commission approved the Department’s initial membership to Southeast Tourism Society. For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
2007 Spring/Summer Online Campaign
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods submitted plans for the 2007 Spring/Summer Online Media Campaign. The budget was approved by the commission and the creative will be submitted for approval in February. For more information contact Karen Mullikin at (501) 975-6251.
Tourism Development Section
Information regarding the Festival Association Meeting that will take place Jan. 21-22 in Pine Bluff was distributed. Votes have been tabulated for the Henry Awards. Recipients will be recognized at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in March. For more information contact Donna Perrin at (501) 682-1926.
Group Travel Section
Arkansas is combining forces with Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas to form a region called "Grand Central USA.” The section is also working with Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana to build multi-state themed itineraries.
Carp fishing fam tours are also being coordinated for Destination Arkansas, which markets Arkansas to tour operators and journalists in the U.K. For more information contact Melinda Hawes at (501) 682-1219.
Tourism Partners
The Department has joined forces with Today’s THV, Channel 11, for a year-long promotion entitled “Amazed by Arkansas.” The 40-week campaign will be based on results of the Top 100 Poll of things to do and see in Arkansas. For more information, contact Karen Mullikin at (501) 975-6251 or Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
Communications Section
The “Cache In with The Natural State” geocache promotion was launched on January 1; 16 locations are taking part in the project. The Commission approved spending $500 per month for two months of banner ads on Geocaching.com. For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
Regional Media Days will take place in Western Arkansas at Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville (April 4) and Eastern Arkansas at U of A Community College at Batesville on March 28. Regional, national and in-state media will be invited to attend. For more information contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
NATJA’s (National American Travel Journalists Association) annual conference is scheduled for the first week in May in Little Rock. For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
Highlights in December for Arkansas.com - Arkansas has the number 1 ranking in contiguous state tourism sites and Hit wise has Arkansas ranked number 6 in “All 50 state Tourism Sites.” For more information, phone Jonathan Eudy at (501) 374-4638.
####
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”
Zoie Clift, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held January 18, 2007, in Bismarck, Arkansas at DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge. For questions regarding this report, please contact Jana Greenbaum, communications manager, at (501) 682-7606.
STATE PARKS DIVISION
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
The commission approved a memorial plaque recognizing the 100 Anniversary of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which acquired the first 9.75 acres of the original Battlefield Park. For more information contact park superintendent Jessee Cox at (479) 846-2990.
FY08 Arkansas Natural & Cultural Resource Council (ANCRC) Grant
The commission approved the Division’s grant request for $8.2 million. The request is for priority renovation, improvement and land acquisition projects throughout the park system. For more information contact Stan Graves, manager Planning and Development at (501) 682-1633.
Petit Jean State Park
The commission approved Omni Air Charter of Little Rock as the FBO Airport Operator for operation and maintenance of the airport at the park. This included flexibility for a 5 year agreement. For more information contact Greg Butts at (501) 682-7743.
Village Creek State Park
Updates on Village Creek Resort’s project financing and plans were discussed. The commission approved extending the deadline until March 1, 2007 to provide adequate time for VCR to procure financing for the resort development. So far, $5.3 million has been spent by Arkansas State Parks on golf course construction. For more information contact Greg Butts at (501) 682-7743.
TOURISM DIVISION
Arkansas Image Book
The commission approved certificates of appreciation for Chuck Haralson and Bernie Jungkind for their work on a new edition of scenic photography in Arkansas. The staff will submit a distribution plan for the books in February.
Governor’s Conference
The theme for the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Tourism will be “Marketing Makes Memories.” The conference will take place March 4-6 in Hot Springs. For more information contact Nancy Clark at (501) 682-1120.
Southeast Tourism Society
The commission approved the Department’s initial membership to Southeast Tourism Society. For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
2007 Spring/Summer Online Campaign
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods submitted plans for the 2007 Spring/Summer Online Media Campaign. The budget was approved by the commission and the creative will be submitted for approval in February. For more information contact Karen Mullikin at (501) 975-6251.
Tourism Development Section
Information regarding the Festival Association Meeting that will take place Jan. 21-22 in Pine Bluff was distributed. Votes have been tabulated for the Henry Awards. Recipients will be recognized at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in March. For more information contact Donna Perrin at (501) 682-1926.
Group Travel Section
Arkansas is combining forces with Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas to form a region called "Grand Central USA.” The section is also working with Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana to build multi-state themed itineraries.
Carp fishing fam tours are also being coordinated for Destination Arkansas, which markets Arkansas to tour operators and journalists in the U.K. For more information contact Melinda Hawes at (501) 682-1219.
Tourism Partners
The Department has joined forces with Today’s THV, Channel 11, for a year-long promotion entitled “Amazed by Arkansas.” The 40-week campaign will be based on results of the Top 100 Poll of things to do and see in Arkansas. For more information, contact Karen Mullikin at (501) 975-6251 or Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
Communications Section
The “Cache In with The Natural State” geocache promotion was launched on January 1; 16 locations are taking part in the project. The Commission approved spending $500 per month for two months of banner ads on Geocaching.com. For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
Regional Media Days will take place in Western Arkansas at Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville (April 4) and Eastern Arkansas at U of A Community College at Batesville on March 28. Regional, national and in-state media will be invited to attend. For more information contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
NATJA’s (National American Travel Journalists Association) annual conference is scheduled for the first week in May in Little Rock. For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum at (501) 682-7606.
Highlights in December for Arkansas.com - Arkansas has the number 1 ranking in contiguous state tourism sites and Hit wise has Arkansas ranked number 6 in “All 50 state Tourism Sites.” For more information, phone Jonathan Eudy at (501) 374-4638.
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”
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"