A grand-opening celebration for Cabot’s new sports complex and aquatic park will be held Saturday at 1245 Bill Foster Hwy. The event is free and open to the public.
The sports complex will have its official grand opening at 9 a.m. followed by a grand opening for the new swimming facility at 11 a.m.
The pool will not open for swimming till next Thursday.
Local officials will be on hand to introduce the park to the public. There will be refreshments and fun for the whole family.
For more information, call 501-605-1506.
The complex cost $13.5 million to complete with a bond issue approved by voters.
John Crow, the outgoing parks department director who will be recreation superintendent in Fayetteville, told The Leader on Tuesday, “I will miss working with the awesome and dedicated team we had assembled for the parks and recreation department.
“Most of the folks on staff have been through some rough times in the department, but have stuck it out because they understand how important what they do is for the community. They totally bought into the mission of the parks and recreation department when I came on staff, and that makes my job so much easier,” Crow said.
“I think one of the things I am most proud of completing during my time as director was the comprehensive master plan… (which) has created a road map for the future of the parks and recreation department based on input from the citizens of this wonderful city,” he contined. “This community-supported plan will allow the parks department to meet their needs and desires for recreational facilities and programs, and doing so in an orderly and responsible way.”
“There have been a lot of changes in our department over the past three years that have set up the department to succeed. These changes would not have been possible without the hard work and support of the parks and recreation commission. They are all extremely dedicated to the department’s mission and success.
“Starting with the mayor and city council and down to the department heads and City Employees, there is a great team assembled leading the City of Cabot into the future.
“The collaboration and teamwork has been the key to finishing and opening the newest park facilities,” said Crow.
Crow, who became parks director in 2013, was previously maintenance superintendent in North Little Rock. Travis Young succeeds him as Cabot parks director.
Crow listed other accomplishments than the sports park and aquatic park:
Cabot Community Center banquet hall and event center Veterans Park Community Center expansion to include new fitness center and event center.
Two new softball fields at the Allman Bevis Sports Complex. (This year, as part of the Cabot Sports park project.)
Held open meeting with skateboarders and bike riders for their input of designing a new skate park. The old skate park was closed and has to be relocated because of the community center expansion.
Permanent bathrooms were built at the BMX track replacing portable toilets.
The disc Frisbee golf course at the Cabot Community Pond was improved with concrete tee boxes.
The renovations of the Cabot Community Center pool in 2013. “This was actually a renovation of the entire community center, but the main repair was the replacement of the roof,” Crow said.
