Large park with facilities for many ball sports plus picnicking, horseshoes, swings & concessions. It’s also home to a popular pickleball facility.
Wolf said the city’s 16 grass ball fields need to be replaced with turf because they drain poorly and may take half a day to dry after rain. The bond money would also upgrade lighting and add parking at some parks, he said.
Parks & Recreation
The city’s parks are a draw for visitors and residents alike. But as the population grows, they’re becoming even more important.
Among the top draws is Murphy Park, which features a public aquatic center that gets thousands of families to its multiple pools and twisting slides each summer. The award-winning facility, along with its walking trails and picnic areas, is the centerpiece of the tree-filled park.
But the city also has a lot of ball fields — 13 at Tyson, six at J.B. Hunt, and three at C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George parks in the far east side of town. Many of those are kept in championship-ready shape and host regional and national tournaments. Those tournaments bring in hundreds of visitors who spend money in the city at restaurants, hotels, and gas stations. They’re a key part of the local economy, Mayor Colby Fulfer says. And that’s why he supports a bond program to upgrade those fields.
Sports
Whether you want to play sports, picnic, or take in some views of the Ozarks from a park bench, Springdale has a park for you. One of the larger parks is Randall Tyson, a 70-acre wonderland designed for baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, and the Miracle League complex that provides barrier-free access to America’s national pastime for people with disabilities.
Families in town for tournaments spend money at restaurants, buy gasoline and stay in hotels. And those dollars help pay for the city’s parks, Fulfer said.
A bond program would allow the city to upgrade all 10 baseball and 12 softball fields at Tyson Park to synthetic infield turf. It also would improve the lighting at all lighted ballfields and courts, Appel said. This would attract better, more competitive tournaments and keep games from getting canceled because of rain.
Aquatic Park
Springdale’s residents love to play sports and spend time at the city parks. The parks offer many facilities for athletics and picnicking. A huge park has fields for baseball, tennis, and soccer along with a splash pad.
The parks also host a variety of events throughout the year for children and adults. For example, the park hosts the annual Western Days festival every July. The event features parades and additional family entertainment in addition to the rodeo.
The city is examining ways to increase revenue at the parks. For instance, the city is considering converting some of the grass ball fields to turf at Randal Tyson and J.B. Hunt parks, Wolf said. The city would install the turf infields for a cost of $200,000 each for the 13 baseball and softball fields and $1 million for the one soccer field at those parks. The city would raise about $16.3 million in bonds for those upgrades if voters approve the issue on May 9. The city’s other parks are maintained by local volunteers and donations.
Dining
In addition to being a great place for outdoor activities, Springdale is also a top destination for fine dining. The city’s restaurant scene is growing rapidly, with several new establishments opening in recent years.
One of the most popular restaurants in Springdale is AQ Chicken House, which is open seven days a week for lunch and early evening. The restaurant offers many different dishes, including chicken wings and salads. Guests can also order sandwiches and desserts.
Another great option for those looking for a quick bite to eat is the Marketplace Grill, which serves delicious meals at an affordable price. The restaurant is highly rated and has received numerous awards.
Besides being a major business hub for northwest Arkansas, the region is also home to several colleges and universities. The University of Arkansas, the state’s largest university, is located south of Springdale in Fayetteville, while John Brown University is west of the city. The city is also served by a number of airports, including the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (FYN). A number of intercity bus services operate from the airport.
Driving directions from Hi-Tech Enterprises to Randall Tyson Recreational Complex
Driving directions from Randall Tyson Recreational Complex to Shiloh Museum of Ozark History