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Friday, March 2, 2007
Mike Riley gives his daughter, Grace, 5, a push in the swing at the Rotary Centennial Memorial Playground in Craighead Forest Park at Jonesboro on Thursday. The park was named the best therapeutic facility in the state by the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association. | Area parks earn awards
By Michael Wilkey
JONESBORO -- Area parks, programs and people were honored on Thursday night.
The Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association presented awards to four Jonesboro area facilities and programs on Thursday. The statewide association also recognized three area residents for their work in improving opportunities for fun in the area.
The awards were presented to:
• Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill -- presidential citation.
• Paragould Community Center -- best new facility worth more than $500,000.
• Rotary Centennial Park in Jonesboro -- best new therapeutic facility.
• Jonesboro Parks and Recreation Little Indian Tackle Football program -- program of the year.
• Mike Donohue, manager of Joe Mack Campbell park -- professional of the year.
• Jim Stearns of Jonesboro Ridge Riders Athletic Club -- person of the year.
• Craighead Forest Park Lake -- natural resource facility.
Award reactions
Those who were recognized at Thursday's event said receiving the awards, with most of the awards going to sites throughout Northeast Arkansas, was an extreme honor.
"Both Jonesboro and Paragould have received a lot of support for the awards. We are happy that they culminated this year at our home conference," said Jason Wilkie, Jonesboro Parks and Recreation Director.
Jonesboro Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Owens said one of the programs recognized -- the Little Indian program -- gives local children a chance to participate in a little-league program on a big-league level.
"The program has fifth- and sixth-grade children involved," Owens said. "There are about 200 children from all five school districts in town who participate. The response has been great and the league has been wonderful. Plus the kids get a chance to play their championship game at Indian Stadium."
Owens said he was jealous yet amazed at the progress made by residents in Paragould to build a first-class community center.
Paragould Parks Director Pat Austin said the community center, open since March 2005, has been an asset for Paragould residents and the region.
"We had 100,000 people visit our center last year," Austin said. "It has an indoor aquatic center with a 25-yard competitive pool. We have two indoor courts along with meeting rooms that can host 1,000 in the gym area and 1,400 people in another area."
Austin said the center will host a cooking show later this year, adding that residents take advantage of two walking tracks, 11 soccer fields and two softball fields in their recreational needs.
Buildings and upgrades
In a related note, the group recognized Gaskill for his work in building the community center and upgrading city parks. Austin noted Gaskill has worked hard to provide that kind of opportunity to residents.
"Paragould has been able to do this because of his leadership," Austin said. "When he became mayor, he wanted businesses to come to Paragould and he understood that a town had to have parks and recreation to do this."
The center's construction was funded through a $14 million bond issue. The city has seen a nearly 350 percent increase in parks funding in the past 10 years, Austin added.
Jim Stearns said the Ridge Riders Athletic Club and the NEA Run and Walk Series have helped meet the fitness needs of area residents during the past several years.
"Our mission has been to promote fitness, wellness and activity," Stearns said. "Our goal has been to average about 225 to 250 people per year participating. Last weekend, we had 200 people participating in the pouring rain."
Stearns, who runs the cardiac rehabilitation program at St. Bernards Medical Center, said this year's series will consist of 17 races, including one on March 10 at Arkansas State University.
Other honors
Craighead Forest Park Lake was honored as the group's natural resource facility. The award was credited in part to the work done by the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas Game and Fish and other interested parties.
Wilkie said the work took a long time to complete, but was worth it.
"It took 18 months to drain it, build a fish habitat and fill it."
A park at Craighead Forest Park -- Rotary Centennial Park -- was honored as best therapeutic facility as well.
"There is no other public playground like it in Arkansas," Wilkie said. "It is truly a Northeast Arkansas park. We have children with special needs and their parents who will drive up to 100 miles to play in that park."
Earlier Thursday the area's parks and recreational opportunities received a statewide audience as parks officials from around the state toured several area parks and facilities.
The association's meeting continues today in Jonesboro.
Sun staff writer Keith Inman contributed to this report.
mwilkey@jonesborosun.com | |
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