By Martin Couch
Over the past couple of months, concern has grown about the rate structure at the new Community Center at Bishop Park, stemming from what some Bryant city Council member have been hearing from residents in their wards.
Through this concern, Alderman Steve Gladden made a motion at the last Bryant City Council meeting that Alderman Chris Tipton, who is the liaison with the parks, be made the head of a group to check into the rates.[more]
"It's me, Adrian Henley and Ed Collins," Tipton said. “Everybody I've talked to about our rates said they were spectacular compared to other places. The city rates are half the cost per family."
The facility, which is located at 6401 Boone Road, has membership fees that include state-of-the-art Cybex Fitness and cardio equipment, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, indoor walking track with rubber floor, exercises and aerobics fitness classes, Vitabot on-line meal planning and access to small board rooms for meetings.
Individual memberships for adults 18-54 years old are $6 daily, $45 for a 10-day pass, $155 for a three-month membership, $300 annually or $25 monthly. Youth prices for ages 4-17 are $4 daily, $30 for a 10-day pass, $45 for a three-month membership, $120 annually or $10 monthly. And for seniors, 55 and over, it's $4, $30, $45, $120 and also $10 monthly.
The smaller print on the Bryant Parks and Recreation website, www.parkinfo@cityofbryant.com, marked fees and rentals, states that monthly fees are available only with written authorization to withdraw monthly dues from member's checking, savings or credit card account for a period of no less than 12 months. Monthly drafts can be canceled by giving the Parks Director 30-days notice in writing. Monthly draft participants who cancel before the expiration of the 12-month period, will be charged the remaining balance.
Family memberships including two adults and up to three youths is $190 for a three-month membership, $504 annually or $42 monthly, with the additional adults or youths to be purchased for the prices of $75 for a 3-month membership or $200.04 on an annual basis or $16.67 monthly for ages 18 to 55. Additional youth cost $30, $75 and $6.25.
"At our last City Council meeting, a council member said that he had been asked about Bishop Park membership fee structure and asked if we could put together a group to look at how the fees are implemented," mayor Larry Mitchell said. "Three council members volunteered and I requested that they get together with the Parks committee and director to begin looking at the process that was followed."
Lemons suggested that the park prices are actually cheaper than those at Maumelle and Jacksonville, comparing with other parks of similar size with similar activities within central Arkansas. He pointed out that Maumelle’s non-resident fee is high and that the fees were based 10 years ago. Lemons went over Maumelle and Jacksonville fees in detail and compared to Bryant Park fees.
Lemons stated that when the sub-committee met, it was discussed to set the fees so that "we do not have to come back in five to 10 years and raise the price," he said.
Lemons explained that Maumelle was built off a millage increase and Jacksonville was built off a general sales tax.
"We hired Ballard-King and Associates to do the studies for us and this is a reputable company — they've done 200 studies like this in the last 10 years," Lemons said. "I'd like to see us go ahead and promote and begin marketing it and move on. We've got 511 members, we can't go back."
Lemons held a tour of Bishop Park for other park directors from around the state on Tuesday.
"We were showing other directors from Texarkana, Fort Smith and northwest Arkansas our recreation department and some of them commented that prices here were cheap," he added.
As far as any threat of personal information of members falling into the wrong hands, Lemons said he and his staff were on it with ActiveNet Security system.
"Actually, the guys from Sherwood and Rogers were interested in this. They want it where they are," Lemons said.
Collins was the only one of the group at the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on Monday and heard the opinions of those present at the meeting. Chairperson Gerald Carr, Sandra Miller, Beth Hipps, Joyce Boswell, Carolann Boone, Larry Turpin, Casey McJunkin — all members of the committee were present.
Collins, representing the group, asked the members if they would like to participate in re-examining the rates of Bishop Park.
"I have been approached by numerous citizens in my ward, as well as citizens throughout the city, who have asked about the rate structure of the Bishop Park," Collins said. "As a City Council member who is elected by the people, we are responsible to re-examine from time to time our ordinances to assure the citizens who we represent. Whether it is one or 500 citizens who make an inquiry that the laws we pass are in the good interest of the public and represent fairness and equity to everyone."
However, when the Parks and Recreations Committee asked for the names of the concerned citizens, they got none.
"The parks committee won't waste their time on a meeting like this, they've already voted and done the research on competitive rates and taking into consideration Bryant businesses," Tipton said. "We'd be getting into the city businesses if we cut rates lower. Why would people go to them if they can get it at the city cheaper. We're not going to take away from the businesses. It’s best to work together."
Turpin made a motion to give the information that “we have from our study, let them have their task force meeting, and they can bring any concerns to the next Parks Committee meeting.” He was seconded by Boone. Motion passed with Carr, Miller, Hipps, Boswell, Boone, Turpin, and McJunkin voting.
The hours of operation of Bishop Park are Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon-8 p.m.
