(rshsdepot) Green Forest, AR

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Photo Link:
http://www.greenforesttribune.com/2argreen-forest/inn_news/Green1.jpg

Park plans, old railroad depot options are mulled by community improvement
group

GREEN FOREST -- Members of the Community Improvement Committee prioritized
their objectives when they met for their regular monthly meeting last
Thursday.

The group hopes to establish a walking trail, build soccer fields, construct
an aquatic park, and move the old railroad depot.

"We need to put these projects into phases, with the easiest and most
inexpensive first," said committee chairman Stanley Norris.

He suggested that they find someone to level the 12 acres of park land that
the city recently purchased so it can be used immediately.

He also suggested that the depot be moved, remodeled and set up as a meeting
hall -- utilizing local funding sources "with no strings attached," instead
of relying on grants.

"It's not just a building to look at," he said, "but, a building to use."

He promised to get estimates on the cost to move the depot and report back
to the committee.

The proposed walking trail was another subject the group discussed. A grant
for $100,000 to fund the project has been sought. Joe Tavin, with McClelland
Consulting Engineers, submitted the grant, saying if they received half that
amount, he would be pleased.

"The walking trail should become a high priority," Norris noted. "There is a
keen interest in bridging Yocum and making a trail. Right now, there is only
the school track for walking."

Everyone agreed that the completion of small projects would put them in a
better position when it came time to ask voters to approve a sales tax to
fund future improvements.

"I haven't found anyone who wouldn't support the tax," Mayor Leonard Tidyman
said.

On the subject of the walking trail, Tidyman said there were grant funds
available to cover the cost of lighting the trail, and that he would pursue
that grant.

When it came time to discuss the aquatic park, opinions differed. Norris was
concerned with costs associated with upkeep, maintenance, and employee
salaries.

"I want a pool for kids, but I have concerns," he stated.

Tidyman presented a printout of expenses and revenues from the Prairie Grove
aquatic park that showed a profit. However, the figures only covered the
park's first two months of operation, from the Fourth of July until Labor
Day last year.

According to those figures, the park took in $102,000 in revenue and paid
out $99,500.

Tidyman suggested that the group travel to area aquatic parks to get a
better idea of what would be best for Green Forest.

Funding for the aquatic park was another topic of discussion. A grant from
the Reynolds Foundation would easily pay for the park, but the city would
not retain control. Instead, a separate entity eligible to receive such a
grant would be the governing body. That thought did not set well with some
of the committee members.

"The Reynolds grant might take away control," one person noted. "If the
citizens support a tax -- then it's theirs."

Norris supplied the group with a plat map of the recently purchased 12-acre
site, and adjoining properties.

According to Norris, there is more land to develop than Tarvin was aware of.

"There's 250-feet-by-120 that you didn't know about," he said. "And, we need
to close off unused streets and alleys on the land."

Tarvin presented two new master plan maps that were configured to meet
requests that were made at the last meeting.

One features three soccer fields, a basketball court, aquatic center,
community building, train depot display area, and 194 parking spaces.

The other has two tennis courts, a basketball court, kiddie playground,
skate park, two soccer fields, an aquatic center, community building, train
depot display area, and 224 parking spaces.

Both are on display at City Hall, along with previous master plans that
Tarvin submitted.

Upon Norris' suggestion, the group moved their meeting to Broadway Street,
where the 12-acre site and depot are located. They measured, discussed, and
came away with a better idea of the possibilities that lie ahead.

    Bernie Wagenblast
    Transportation Communications Newsletter
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications/


=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

------------------------------