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VOTE No Bond Q#8 -March 3

VOTE No Bond Q#8 -March 3

February 12, 2026
, Joy Ramsey 0

We are asking for your support to Save Lewis Park by voting NO to the $61.9 Million Aquatic Center Bond Issue #8, March 3, 2026.

The current aquatic recreation center plan is incomplete, with references to amenities that “may be included.” What is certain is the preferred location of Lewis Park will destroy 4 full sized soccer fields that serve multiple sports. Lewis Park is more than fields, it is a needed vital green space in a residential neighborhood that mitigates stormwater and slows runoff to Hamestring Creek.

The feasibility study estimated operating cost of $2 Million annually, with estimated shortfall of $700,000 +every year, after fees and donations. Many other civic services and salaries could be funded with this amount of our taxpayer money.

The Study: The $151,591 June 2024 – September 2025 aquatic feasibility study selected Lewis Park, at Mount Comfort Road and Lewis Ave., as the preferred site, without recognizing the loss of essential and heavily used multi sport fields being sacrificed at this location. The costs of replacing these fields is not analyzed or included. Building at Lewis will trigger another another major project to purchase and build another field complex. Recommendations from the feasibility study are: Improvements to Wilson Park pool, Multiple outdoor pools, Partnerships with other organizations to manage aquatic facilities.
https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/38649


Bond Vote: October 21, 2025, the City Council voted 6-2 to approve the ballot language and set the date for a bond referendum with nine issues. Residents will vote on each issue individually, per state law.


Contracts: November 4, 2025, the City Council Council members voted 5-3 to approve two separate items related to work on a proposed aquatics center at Lewis Park. The two contracts combine for a total of $272,523. One of the items was a $232,524 architectural contract with local firm Crafton Tull. The other was a $39,999 construction manager contract with local firm CDI Contractors.
https://fayettevilleflyer.com/2025/11/05/fayetteville-council-approves-contracts-for-preliminary-work-on-proposed-aquatics-center/


Why Help Save Lewis Park

Why Help Save Lewis Park

February 10, 2026
Joy Ramsey 0

Vote No Bond Q#8 = $61.9 Million Aquatic Center
Preferred site from feasibility study is Lewis Park. We save the park by making the city rethink their plans to destroy 4/6 full sized fields. These fields are vital, central, and needed. Please ask the city to consider other options suggested in their study.

Preserve Lewis Park, Build Aquatic Center Elsewhere

December 5, 2025
, , , , Joy Ramsey 1

The plans to build a proposed Aquatic Center at Lewis Park will decimate the existing fields, reducing quantity, size, and flexibility of this park. Addition of asphalt for parking and rooftops for the indoor pool and peripheral buildings, lazy river, slides and other features, will have detrimental impact on the areas ability to mitigate stormwater. Increased traffic will negatively impact the walkability and safety of the residential neighborhood. This proposed Aquatic Center will cost from $61- $107 Million dollars, which will be presented in the bond issue to be voted on in March of 2026.

Please support us in asking the City Council, Parks Department, and Mayor to find another location for this planned project rather than destroying this multipurpose, central, essential, neighborhood park. Logic would dictate maintaining Lewis Park over trying to replace what would be lost.

Preserve Lewis Park, Build Aquatic Center Elsewhere
Mayor Seeks City Council Approval to Extend Lease of Lewis Park

Mayor Seeks City Council Approval to Extend Lease of Lewis Park

July 28, 2018
, Will 0

By now, I am sure you have seen the news that was posted yesterday. If you have not, you can check out the good news about Lewis Park here. Essentially, Mayor Jordan has worked out a one-year lease extension with the University of Arkansas for Lewis Park. In exchange, the University gets an extension of the Indian Hills property, which is behind Chik-Fil-A on MLK.

This is a welcome development. It means we have some more time to raise funds and build partnerships with other interested parties, like Fayetteville Public Schools. It also means we can get clarification by the State Legislature of Arkansas about public land expenditure rules. Finally, it means we will be able to use the park until next year and hopefully get it put on the 2019 Bond Issue. These are all good things for the people of Fayetteville.

Let’s keep up the good work. The finish line may be in sight, but we still have lots of work to do to #SaveLewis.

You can read more at the Fayetteville Flyer and the NW Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Free Massage Giveaway

Free Massage Giveaway

May 11, 2018
Will 0

The City of Fayetteville and the Parks and Recreation Department are currently in the process of updating the strategic parks plan. At the May 7th public meeting at the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, the board said they would like more responses to the Strategic Park Planning Survey, so to help them out Karas Health Care has generously donated two (2) 60 minute massages from Be One Yoga, the connected yoga studio next door. To enter in a chance for a massage; 1. fill out the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/imagineparks1  2. like the facebook post 3. comment on the post. The two winners, each winner will receive one massage, will be drawn randomly on May 31st.

 

RULES OF GIVEAWAY:

1. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
2. To enter the Giveaway you must be 18 years old or over at the time of entry and possess a valid ID. You must ‘like’ the post, comment below, and fill out the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/imagineparks1
3. The Giveaway is open to residents of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Giveaways are not open to employees of Sponsors or (or members of their immediate families) or employee of Karas Health Care or Be One Yoga.
4. Facebook Post Comment: Only one entry per person.
5. This Giveaway is being sponsored by #SaveLewisPark and Friends of Lewis Park.
6. The Giveaway shall begin at: May 11st, 2018 and conclude at: Noon May 31st, 2018. Sponsor reserves the right to amend the terms of the giveaway, including but limited to the end date at any time.
7. Free Massage. Sponsor reserves the right to withdraw or replace a prize of equal or greater value at any time without prior notice. The prize may not be transferable to another person. No part of the prize is redeemable for cash or combined with any other prize or offer.
8. This giveaway is valued at $60.
9. The winners, each winner shall receive one prize, shall be selected on May 31st, 2018 from a random drawing.
10. If you win the Giveaway, we will notify you by post and e-mail.
11. Winner shall be responsible for any fees, expenses and/or taxes that may be associated with the prize.
12. By entering the Giveaway the winner agrees to participate in such promotional activity and material as Sponsor may require.
13. Winner may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and publicity release.
14. The winner of the Giveaway must pick up their prize from sponsor within thirty (30) days of being notified as the winner.
15. Winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsors, its parents, and affiliates from and against any claim or cause of action, arising out of entrant’s participation in the Giveaway.
16. Sponsors, it’s parents, employees and affiliates are not responsible for incorrect information, technical failures, unauthorized human intervention, human error, undeliverable mail, injury or damage caused from entrant’s participation in the giveaway.
17. All issues and questions concerning the Giveaway shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Arkansas.
18. Winners list will be published on the following official sites: https://www.facebook.com/SaveLewisPark

Recap of the Town and Gown Advisory Council Meeting 11/20

November 21, 2017
Will 0

This meeting was originally supposed to be held the Technology Center but was moved to room 326 of Fayetteville City Hall. The meeting opened with introductions of the members and an explanation of how the Town and Gown Committee had recently been reorganized and the change of scope of the committee.

After the previous meetings minutes were approved, Don Marr, the Chief of Staff for the City of Fayetteville and chair of the committee, asked if the committee would move the item about Lewis Park to the front of the agenda. The council all agreed, and Will Dockery representing #SaveLewis got up and presented the case for Lewis.

After presenting the argument that Lewis is utilized by university club sports, international students, and the local population and how changing the park will affect the city and the university the council members asked questions and had comments for further clarification. Several community members voiced their concern during the discussion.

After an hour of talking on the issue, Matthew Ramesy, a Community Citizen at Large committee member made a motion to recommend that the city should not prematurely cancel the lease at the end of December in light of the new information that has come to light about Lewis, and to allow all the stakeholders to be able to further sit down and figure out the issues surrounding Lewis Park. The motion was seconded by John L. Colbert, the representative for Fayetteville Public Schools.

The motion was voted on after a bit more discussion. The five Community Member Representatives all voted for the measure. The three City of Fayetteville Staff Representatives all voted against it — including Don Marr — who made it clear he was doing so as instructed from the administration. The three University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Representatives all abstained. That meant the motion passed 5-3-3.

We thanked the committee for their time and consideration.

The key takeaways from this meeting are:

  1. We want to work with the City of Fayetteville, University of Arkansas, local businesses, and the citizens to #SaveLewis Park. Together, we can do great things and continue to make this one of the best places to live.

  2. Write you council member. http://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/247/… Remind them that you care about this issue.

  3. We need to show up, and show up in force, to the November 21st City Council meeting at 5:30 pm in room 219 of City Hall. If you would like to talk during the public comment section, please focus on the lease being terminated early. There are many reasons why the lease should not be terminated early. Focus on those.

Let’s keep it up.

Recap of the Town and Gown Advisory Council Meeting 11/20