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Your new LR mayor just closed War Memorial Golf Course
Posted on 6/19/19 at 8:17 am
Posted on 6/19/19 at 8:17 am
LINK
According to the article, the move was basically dictated by a group of "millenials" that advocated for closing the course... The mayor just so happened to be a former member of the group.
According to the article, the move was basically dictated by a group of "millenials" that advocated for closing the course... The mayor just so happened to be a former member of the group.
quote:
The city will cease golf operations at Little Rock's War Memorial and Hindman parks within about two weeks, after Mayor Frank Scott Jr.'s approval Tuesday of recommendations from city staff members.
Based on financial analysis, a study by outside consultants, and the courses' usage and conditions, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department Director John Eckart recommended that the city "reinvest" in the First Tee and Rebsamen golf courses while repurposing the other two.
Earlier this month, the city board approved nearly $2.1 million in cuts to Little Rock's budget for 2019. The budget amendment included a policy decision to close and repurpose two of the city's four golf courses, which was to be made after analysis by the staff.
The last day of play at Hindman will be June 28, which coincides with the last day of work for employees whose positions were cut. War Memorial's last day will be July 4, to accommodate a scheduled tournament.
quote:
"This is an opportunity to reinvest, reimagine and recommit to our city," Scott said.
In 2018, the city spent nearly $2.6 million to support four golf courses that made about $1.4 million in revenue, according to numbers provided by the city. City staff members didn't have any estimates on how much it would cost to put in the new features.
"This is a large idea," parks design manager Leland Couch said. "It's hard to start looking at price tags when we don't even know how many ball fields [to be placed at War Memorial]."
A spokesman for Scott said in an email that the "vision plans" were developed only to help residents "conceptualize what is possible," and that nothing is set in stone.
Scott said a community task force will be put in place to brainstorm recreation options to provide a "great quality of life for youth and our seasoned brethren."
He said there would be opportunities for public input, including a poll on social media and a form on the city's website.
quote:
Two members of Think Big Little Rock, a group of millennials convened in 2016 to brainstorm strategies to improve the city, spoke in support of repurposing the courses. Turning War Memorial into a central park was among the group's recommendation, co-chairman Amanda Nipper said. Scott was a member of the group when it kicked off.
"Social cohesion increases health outcomes. The relationships that we have with each other in the physical environment have an effect on our daily lives," member Jennifer Hoss said, explaining how such a park could bring people together.
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Posted on 6/19/19 at 8:28 am to Jack Ruby
Will end up being a homeless camp
Posted on 6/19/19 at 8:47 am to Jack Ruby
quote:
"Social cohesion increases health outcomes. The relationships that we have with each other in the physical environment have an effect on our daily lives," member Jennifer Hoss said,
What the shite does this even mean? Sounds like AOC shite spouting that doesn't make any kind of sense...
Posted on 6/19/19 at 8:57 am to WonderWartHawg
It doesn't mean anything... That's the point, it's just a collection of alleged "socially impactful" words jumbled together that, in actuality, amount to zilch.
The first question from the panel should have been "what proof of that do you have?" "What do you mean by" health outcomes?" Are you a medically qualified professional?"
As soon as these idiots are pressed on their mindless, incoherent lemming phrases, they have no answer at all because there is no actual substance behind the words... Only shite they've heard other idiots say on twitter.
It's a sham... The whole thing was from the beginning. The golf course, while although in a not so great part of town, at least mandated that the property remain properly groomed and active.
Apparently, the move now is turn it into a "park" of some kind, whatever that means.
Well, my best guess is that it will become a cesspool of illicit and gross activity, similar to Central Park in the 80s.
Say goodbye to tailgating folks... You probably won't want to step foot near that place in a couple years.
quote:
Social cohesion increases health outcomes.
The first question from the panel should have been "what proof of that do you have?" "What do you mean by" health outcomes?" Are you a medically qualified professional?"
As soon as these idiots are pressed on their mindless, incoherent lemming phrases, they have no answer at all because there is no actual substance behind the words... Only shite they've heard other idiots say on twitter.
It's a sham... The whole thing was from the beginning. The golf course, while although in a not so great part of town, at least mandated that the property remain properly groomed and active.
Apparently, the move now is turn it into a "park" of some kind, whatever that means.
Well, my best guess is that it will become a cesspool of illicit and gross activity, similar to Central Park in the 80s.
Say goodbye to tailgating folks... You probably won't want to step foot near that place in a couple years.
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 9:02 am
Posted on 6/19/19 at 9:38 am to Jack Ruby
Meh, I can see closing down the golf course because it was losing money. That having been said turning it into a quality park and maintaining it is also going to cost a decent amount of change and you aren't going to be getting any money from golfers to off set it.
NW Arkansas, as an example, has money to blow so you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a nice park up there. Places that don't have money to blow tend to have crappy parks that don't exactly attract quality visitors. Is Little Rock willing to pay?
NW Arkansas, as an example, has money to blow so you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a nice park up there. Places that don't have money to blow tend to have crappy parks that don't exactly attract quality visitors. Is Little Rock willing to pay?
Posted on 6/19/19 at 9:57 am to Jack Ruby
My goodness some of you folks are terrible at business
For one, do you know how expensive golf courses (even shitty ones) are to maintain? Most don't even break even, that's why tons are closing. Even Bella Vista is closing courses. The sport is dying, and cities have other priorities. Like police and fire departments, water systems, roads etc. Not as easily cut as a golf course that's mostly empty.
Park maintenance is much cheaper. Especially if they put in those fake grass ball fields that don't need mowing (super popular right now). It's all about the annual spend. If it costs $100 today to stop paying $75 per year, it makes sense financially pretty quick.
Some of you folks would pay $5 for a 100% chance of winning a $2 bill. Then you'd go on about how you made $2. Revenue is irrelevant if you're losing money (negative profit)
Also, to the other point, social connections are important to physical health. Those dummies at Harvard found loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This emerging field of research is likely what the group was talking about
For one, do you know how expensive golf courses (even shitty ones) are to maintain? Most don't even break even, that's why tons are closing. Even Bella Vista is closing courses. The sport is dying, and cities have other priorities. Like police and fire departments, water systems, roads etc. Not as easily cut as a golf course that's mostly empty.
Park maintenance is much cheaper. Especially if they put in those fake grass ball fields that don't need mowing (super popular right now). It's all about the annual spend. If it costs $100 today to stop paying $75 per year, it makes sense financially pretty quick.
Some of you folks would pay $5 for a 100% chance of winning a $2 bill. Then you'd go on about how you made $2. Revenue is irrelevant if you're losing money (negative profit)
Also, to the other point, social connections are important to physical health. Those dummies at Harvard found loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This emerging field of research is likely what the group was talking about
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 10:10 am
Posted on 6/19/19 at 10:06 am to Jack Ruby
Can they close down the stadium too?
Posted on 6/19/19 at 11:51 am to WonderWartHawg
quote:
"Social cohesion increases health outcomes. The relationships that we have with each other in the physical environment have an effect on our daily lives," member Jennifer Hoss said,
quote:
What the shite does this even mean? Sounds like AOC shite spouting that doesn't make any kind of sense...
I'll take "Things Stupid People Say" for $1000 Alex.
Posted on 6/19/19 at 11:55 am to City Ham
quote:
Also, to the other point, social connections are important to physical health.
Are you equating social connections to social cohesion? I think you've got your fluffy terms confused. Must be the innate mansplaining chromosomes in you.
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 11:58 am
Posted on 6/19/19 at 11:58 am to piggilicious
Are you equating that post to being clever?
Posted on 6/19/19 at 12:12 pm to City Ham
It was kind of a fight stupid with stupid- I'll admit.
Posted on 6/19/19 at 12:38 pm to City Ham
quote:
Especially if they put in those fake grass ball fields that don't need mowing (super popular right now)
There is zero demand in Little Rock for baseball/softball fields. There is a reason that, outside of JD, pretty much every complex in Little Rock has gone under.
I have no problem if they decide to close the WM and Hindman, but they need a damn plan before they do. Rock climbing walls and a baseball complex are a waste of money. I guess if they can figure out how to connect to the Arkansas River Trail it might get used by cyclists, but it isn’t big enough to work as a stand-alone trail.
This post was edited on 6/19/19 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 6/19/19 at 5:34 pm to Jack Ruby
LRAFB is closing it's course too
Posted on 6/20/19 at 1:05 am to cubsfan5150
quote:
LRAFB is closing it's course too
That's a damn shame. I had a couple friends stationed there over the years and it was always a lot of fun playing that course.
Posted on 6/20/19 at 12:13 pm to Inadvertent Whistle
The idea is being floated around trying to get a Top Golf there. I'd rather them turn it into a park and still allow the best tailgating in the state. 
Posted on 6/20/19 at 1:24 pm to City Ham
Younger people aren't as in to golf as Boomers.
Golf courses will be closing in lots of places.
Golf courses will be closing in lots of places.
Posted on 6/24/19 at 2:12 pm to Numberwang
Hindman is awful and not used. that should have gone years ago.
Unless you sell the land and develop it, War Memorial won't ever make money. There's not a scenario where you can frisby golf and tennis tournament your way into cashflow.
Unless you sell the land and develop it, War Memorial won't ever make money. There's not a scenario where you can frisby golf and tennis tournament your way into cashflow.
Posted on 6/24/19 at 3:08 pm to boogiewoogie1978
quote:
The idea is being floated around trying to get a Top Golf there. I'd rather them turn it into a park and still allow the best tailgating in the state.
The Top Golf in War Memorial is such a terrible idea because it would hand over some of the best property in the city to a private company.
I'm a huge fan of bigger city parks that are developed in a way that allow for multiple uses with multiple smaller structures throughout. The golf course is 90 acres. If you add in the other war memorial structures (zoo, stadium, gym), I think the whole thing is 200 acres. Centennial Park in Atlanta is only 22 acres and it feels even bigger. Prospect Park in Brooklyn is 500+ acres but feels like twice that. War Memorial Park feels small. A better use plan would fix that, but I'm not super sold on what's been proposed so far. Feels like we're gearing up for a missed opportunity, especially since you don't have to develop it all at once while in a bad budget situation.
Hindman, however, feels like a great opportunity for a park that could really build some neat programs around canoeing, cycling, outdoor-sy stuff of all kinds.
Posted on 6/24/19 at 4:11 pm to whataboar
Centennial Park has always seemed tiny to me. I’d compare it more to Piedmont Park. That’s a good guide on what they could do with it, if they’re determined to keep it a park.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 3:01 pm to whataboar
quote:
Centennial Park in Atlanta is only 22 acres and it feels even bigger.
Damn. Wilson Park in Fayetteville is about 22 acres.
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