10-year Sherwood parks plan in works
By Greg Rayburn / Editor
Thursday, February 7, 2008 11:22 AM CST
The city’s parks and recreation director says that now that the former North Hills Country Club has been condemned, the public soon will be asked what type of park-related facility they wish to see in the 105-acre space.
“We had plans on doing a 10-year [parks plan] before last week, but now our study has to include the [former] golf course,” said Parks and Recreation Director Sonny Janssen.
Mayor Virginia Hillman had told a group of Gravel Ridge residents in late January the city of Sherwood would soon create a 10-year development plan for the city parks system. Hillman also said the study would include Gravel Ridge if that unincorporated area becomes a part of Sherwood, which is attempting to annex the community.
Janssen said the city is close to hiring ETC Engineers of Little Rock, whose job will be to come up with different ideas so the city can maximize the use of its parks.
“We sat down with them recently and had a brainstorming session,” he said.
Now that the city is trying to acquire North Hills, making it a part of the 10-year plan is the Parks Department’s top priority.
“The city was built around the country club and what we would like to see would be as Central Park is to New York City, so would a park where the [former] golf course is” be to Sherwood, Janssen said.
While he would like to see another golf course where North Hills existed, Janssen doubts that would be economically feasible. He sees the North Hills property as a great addition to the city parks system.
“What our consultants will do [is conduct] surveys and listen to the public about what they would like to see at North Hills,” said Janssen.
In 1996, when city officials were making plans to build the Bill Harmon Recreation Center, surveys were done with the help of consultants to see what type of facilities Sherwood residents would support there, Janssen said.
“We found out that people wanted an indoor swimming pool,” he said. “If we had not found out that people wanted an indoor swimming pool, then we wouldn’t have put one there.”
Janssen said he envisions public meetings being held within the next several months to get feedback from the public about North Hills.
“The first step will be to eliminate what is impractical at North Hills ... to survey the land and see what is least likely to work there,” he said.
Janssen said it is vital to include the public because residents likely will be asked to pay for proposals eventually made.
“There will have to be a way to pay for whatever plan is proposed to implement,” he said.
Joanne Filiatreau wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:18 PM:
We are hopeful that the hired Master City Parks Planner will also look at this magnificent development by Robert Trent Jones Golf Designed Course and make the decision to keep the golf course. A golf course will make money from greens fees where as a "Central Park" theme will not bring in the income. Some of the "Central Park" theme could be incorporated with a golf course and public swimming pool. and the much needed rental facility.
I trust our city will hire a firm that will look at this land and see the golf course as our future. Besides having the ability to make money it also was part of our beginnings. "