Green Zone ordinance, leases ready for council

Members of the Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Commission made final corrections and adjustments to proposed ordinance, lease agreements and options for the use of Green Zone areas Monday evening.

The final documents conclude nearly a year of work by committee members trying to figure out how to deal with city property under the control of the Parks Commission.

Some of the areas are designated as green space, many are unopened, but platted, streets and alleyways.

The city has leased some of the areas through the years to adjacent property owners for as long as 99 years.

Parks Director Bruce Levine said he "thinks there are about 60 of these leases in the city."

The proposals will be sent to the city council for approval.

Parking areas in and around Harmon Park were discussed.

Levine said people coming into the area to use the Skatepark frequently block the roads through the park trying to park close to the Skatepark, rather than in designated parking areas.

Commissioner Joel Taylor thought blocking the roads would discourage use of the park.

Commissioner Barbara Dunnam said any parking area should be handicapped accessible.

The group agreed to try to come up with solutions to the parking situation.

Levine announced members of the Western District Community Development Partnership (CDP) and Eureka Kids will paint the community building in Harmon Park Sept. 30. Paint has been donated.

Levine suggested some re-assignment of commission members to committees. He said David Renko is on the Harmon Park Improvement Committee but he is much more familiar with the Lake Leatherwood City Park.

Levine wants to set up a committee to do long and short-term planning for the lake area.

Renko has helped develope hicking and biking trails around the lake. He is also a producer of the annual Fat Tire Festival, which includes riding at the lake in its events.

Deschner operates Eureka Kids in Harmon Park. She agreed to be on the Improvement Committee.

Commissioner Draxie Rogers agreed to be the representative to the Basin Park Improvement Committee. It is an independent group, but has had a parks representative on it.

Chairman Bill Featherstone had asked the group to consider changing regular meeting nights again. He has trouble making the Monday night meetings on time.

Monday was agreeable with the rest of the commissioners, so he agreed to keep the meetings on the third Monday of each month.

Levine expressed his concern about starting construction on a mile-long trail at the Leatherwood Sports Fields. The commission has received a $37,500 80/20 matching grant for the project and it is to be completed by June 1, 2005.

He said he is hoping the Arkansas Forestry Commission will be able to help develop the trail as an "in-kind" service. The Forestry Commission has an office at Lake Leatherwood.