Bryant Parks & Rec meeting Feb 11 to include Lacrosse, Strategic Plan & more

Bryant Parks to hear Mayor’s strategic plan, honor Lacrosse park, discuss pollution grant and more. Read the full agenda below.

The meeting will be Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to come. The address is 6401 Boone Road, in the Bishop Park Administration Building’s conference room.

AGENDA

Call to Order

Approval of Minutes

1. January 14 Parks Committee Meeting

• Minutes-ParksCommittee-January2025 (1).pdf

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:

Bryant Parks Committee Meeting

January 14, 2025 – 6:00 PM

Bishop Park Administration Building

6401 Boone Rd. Bryant, Arkansas

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

Call to Order – Keith Cox at 6:00 PM

Committee Members Present – Jennifer Benning, Renee Curtis, Lynn Farmer, Amanda Jolly, Drew Martin, Chera Moore and Jason Whittington.

Others Present – Parks Director Keith Cox, Parks Assistant Director Matt Martin, IT Support

Technician Philip Plouch, City Councilman Jack Mosely and Jim Anderson with Central Arkansas Soccer.

Approval of Minutes

1. December 10 Parks Committee Meeting

Motion to approve by Moore, seconded by Martin. Motion carried.

Associations/Club Reports

There were no Association/Club Reports

Director’s Report

2. Parks December Summary

Cox presents the summary of actions and activities from December, highlighting multiple equipment failures at the Aquatics Center and giving updates on the status of the facility, including the scoreboard, lap pool heater, therapy pool heater, the HVAC system in the bathhouse and the current status of the PoolPak system. Martin asks for an update on the Mills Pool cover.

3. Parks Capital Projects Update

Cox then gives an update on capital projects and leads with the status of the Mills Pool cover; which was shipped but unable to be installed due to an issue with the cover. We are still waiting on the new pool cover. He also discusses the pool dehumidifier replacement, with the bid opening this month and work to be scheduled for the Summer, and updates on trails.

Public Comments

Jim Anderson introduces himself as the new President of Central Arkansas Soccer Club and expresses his excitement to continue to grow soccer at Midland Park and working with the Bryant Parks Department.

Old Business

4. Parks Committee Bylaws

Cox explains that he will need to take the bylaws for updating due to the location of the meeting. He asks the committee to review the current bylaws and bring any other changes that may be necessary to the February meeting.

New Business

5. Election of Parks Committee Chairperson

Amanda Jolly elected as 2025 Parks Committee Chairperson by majority vote.

Committee Comments

There were no Committee Comments

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Curtis, seconded by Martin. Motion carried.

Presentations and Announcements

2. City of Bryant Strategic Plan – Presented by Mayor Chris Treat

• 2025-2026_strategic_plan.pdf

3. 2024 ATA Field of the Year – Campbell Lacrosse Field at Alcoa Park

Associations / Club Reports

Director’s Report

4. Parks Department January Summary

• Parks Directors Report – February.pdf

Bryant Parks and Recreation
Director’s Report
February 2025
The following took place during the month of January:
● Youth Basketball League started playing games at The Center, Hurricane Creek Elementary and Bryant Middle School.
● Currently running Pickleball Power Morning League with 40 participants.
● Bryant High School hosted the Saline County Sprint meet on January 28 at Aquatic Center.
● BASS team took 3rd place at the Arkansas AAU Swim Club Thunder Turtle Meet in El Dorado.
● Hosted Bryant Youth Association Bingo Bash on January 23 at the Center.
● Grounds staff attended the Arkansas Turfgrass Association Annual Conference in Hot Springs on January 16 and 17.
● Aquatics staff attended the Arkansas Aquatics Conference in Cabot on January 21-23.
● Replaced wall mounted heater in Ashley Park bathroom.
● Began mowing of baseball and softball fields. Multiple cuts to bring height down gradually.
● Edged and loop hoed all baseball and softball fields.
● Cut out humps that had formed on B2 pitching mound edge.
● Replaced all missing base plugs to allow for play at different base distances.
● Currently working with JF Media on a comprehensive Advertising Plan that will be implemented this year.
● Contracted Bryant Streets Department to clear old concrete slab and well house at Midland Park and add SB2 gravel in its place to increase overflow parking.
● Installed a new Lochinvar heater on the Bishop Lap Pool
● Installed heat strips to the Bishop bathhouse HVAC unit for heat to prevent condensation.
● Repairs completed on roof leak at Bishop Aquatics bathhouse.
● Received bids for natatorium dehumidification system replacement and awarded project. Currently working through contract details but work is still on schedule for this Summer.