Keys and advice for Cadron Settlement Park were given to Conway Parks and Recreation Department personnel Wednesday morning.
Operation of the park fell under city control last month as per a no-money-exchanged agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Parks director Brian Knopp and Scott Fryer, parks manager for the Corps of Engineers Russellville Field Office, reviewed the park and discussed what needs to be done to restore it to a condition the city can be proud of.
"It's really in pretty good shape," Knopp said.
Apart from vegetation that's somewhat overgrown and a few items such as bathroom windows that seem to have walked off since the upper end of the park was closed to vehicles last winter, the amount of work needed to restore the park is manageable, Knopp and other parks personnel agreed.
Fryer said he's "real positive" about the city taking over operations, as the corps of engineers has limited funds to maintain and operate the park. The corps of engineers will continue to send park rangers to patrol, and the same federally-mandated archaeological guidelines concerning excavation or earthmoving will continue to be observed.
Though all park procedures and practices to be adopted under city control are yet to be finalized, Knopp said the city likely would not charge for access to the Arkansas River at the park's boat launch site.
Conway Police Department has committed to regularly patrolling the park, and the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office would also cooperate in providing a law enforcement presence, according to Maj. Andy Shock.
But perhaps the best deterrent to the park's recent criminal activity will be more people visiting it, Gary Mitchell, also of the Russellville field office, said.
The mountain bikers, he said, have done a good job of maintaining the park's walking/bike trails and providing a presence that makes the area seem less a wilderness and more a park.
"They're providing an unseen but very valuable service," Mitchell said.
Though vehicular access to the upper end of the park may be restricted for several more days or weeks, pedestrian and bicycle use of all park trails is currently permitted.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached at 505-1238 or by E-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit.)
