The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) and the City of Batesville Parks and Recreation Department recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the establishment of the West Park playground.
In a release, the chamber said the playground was a collaborative project that brought together numerous partners, such as the City of Batesville’s Park and Recreation Department, Excel by 8, Sulphur Rock Elementary EAST students, White River Planning and Development, and the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
The project also helps achieve IMPACT Independence County goals of increasing quality of life in Independence County and significantly contributes to our becoming the healthiest county in Arkansas, according to the chamber.
“The playground’s interactive and engaging equipment is specifically crafted to foster the development of fine and gross motor skills. It’s a space where families can enjoy outdoor play and exploration, knowing that they are nurturing their children’s connection to nature and bolstering their overall development,” the chamber said in the release.
“Connecting children to nature became an obvious and comprehensive strategy in supporting their developmental needs while realizing the city’s vision for its parks,” said BACC COO Jamie Rayford (pictured below) at the ceremony.
Data collected from the Cities Connecting Children to Nature cohort and the Excel by 8 coalition was shared with Parks Director Jeff Owens. The goal was to explore how to best ensure that young children are developing fine and gross motor skills and social competence with their peers.
“Through the cohort, we decided to conduct a community parks audit,” Rayford continued. “However, we needed experts to observe a variety of factors related to play. The then-5th-grade students at Sulphur Rock Elementary, along with their EAST Facilitator, Ms. Jenine Ottaway, assisted us in completing the parks audit and identifying gaps in the quality and features of our parks.”
Mayor Rick Elumbaugh (pictured above) recognized the partnerships and individuals who contributed to the park project, including Parks Director Jeff Owens, White River Planning and Development Community Development Coordinator Carrie McIntosh, Batesville School District Superintendent Dr. Ken James, and the Arkansas Parks, Tourism, and Heritage Department.
“It’s a win-win,” the mayor said at the ceremony. “You know you’ve done it right when you see school buses from various districts visiting the park. That’s what it’s all about. This neighborhood has so many kids who don’t have the opportunity to walk to the community center or Riverside Park.”
The new playspace complements the existing pavilion and splash pad, which opened in 2022.
“With so much alignment these days between students, resources, and schools, everything comes together, and it’s all about quality of life in Arkansas,” said Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and Director of State Parks Shea Lewis (below), who also spoke at the ceremony. “The park is the perfect case study — that we can use to share with other communities across the state — of what happens when people come together and find solutions to provide recreational opportunities.”
Above images provided by the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce
“West Park playground is an excellent example of Arkansans enjoying nature and participating in outdoor recreation, which aligns with Governor Sanders’ focus on promoting outdoor activities,” said Lewis.
The new playground is located by the West Splash Pad, near the intersection of North Hill Street and East Carter Street in West Batesville – a strategic location, the chamber said, to ensure it is accessible for neighborhood families and children.
Ambassadors in attendance include Adam Curtwright (Centennial Bank), Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Ashley Engles (Citizens Bank), Cassidy Mitchell (Lyon College), Katelyn Holt (Family Chiropractic Care), Lindy Hopper (First Community Bank), Lori Campbell (Batesville School District), Lori Tacker (Batesville Eye Care Center), Mary Duvall (Bad Boy, Inc), Meredith Simmons (Home Instead ), Megan Renihan (Batesville School District), Michael Kelley (Peco Foods), Rickie Westbrook (Centennial Bank), Seanna Horn (Lyon College), Silje Antonsen (Venture Realty Group), Tiffany Traw (UACCB), Jesse Cargill (UAMS), and Julie Hinkle (Bank of Cave City).
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ every weekday morning and afternoon. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
