Benton Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the 2018 Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) Facility of the Year and Program of the Year.
The Facility of the Year award is in recognition of Riverside Park. When Benton voters approved a sales tax initiative in the fall of 2013, the city’s big picture came into focus. The $53 million Riverside Park development has been anchored by the 87,000 square foot River Center which opened in April of 2017.
The Program of the Year award is given out in recognition of Benton Sharks Summer Swim Team. When River Center opened its doors in 2017, there was an obvious need to have summer swim teams associated with the facility. The Aquatics Staff established an internal swim program called “Benton Sharks.” For the first time in the Department’s
history, Benton had a swim team! The concept of hosting a league without other teams was a first of its kind. With a hard-working, knowledgeable, and innovative staff, a quality and successful program was born.
In addition, Adam Nelsen, Aquatics Director for the City of Benton, has been awarded the 2018 ARPA Professional of the Year.
“These awards are a testament to the hard work that our staff puts in on a daily basis,” said Director of Parks and Recreation, Stephanie Jones. “We are excited to see the growth that has occurred within our Department over the past year. I am proud of Adam and the hard work he puts into the facility and the sport of swim.”
Stephanie Jones was also sworn in as a ARPA Board Member-at-Large.
The awards were be presented at the ARPA Annual Conference in Benton on Thursday, November 8th.