By Jud Powell Staff Reporter Little River News
Story reprinted by permission of Little River News
Officials started the physical portion of a new 43-acre recreation park in Foreman on Wednesday morning, Oct. 9, with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by State Sen. Barbara Horn, D-Ark., Teton Industrial Construction Company Civil Superintendent Jeff Henry, former State Rep. Ken Cowling, D-Ark., and Foreman Recreation Park Commissioner Teresa Woods, as well as a number of other local community leaders.
Teton is one of several subcontractors that worked on the recent Ash Grove Cement plant expansion, and their donation is part of its community involvement initiative that seeks to give back to the communities in which they have been privileged to work.
“I have nothing but free time as far as this project is concerned,” Henry said.“I been with this project for over two months and the company has donated 5,100 concrete blocks for construction of restrooms, the concession stand and a multipurpose building at the park.”
The City of Foreman has received help with the bidding and planning for the facility which will be located at North Malden Street. Patterson Engineering designed the park which will be used for baseball and softball fields. It will have a concession area and stands, along with a multipurpose area and a lighted walking trail that will stretch one mile through the park, as part of the first phase of the project.
The park will also have an area equipped with playground equipment and a picnic area for residents and visitors. The addition of a second ball field for city use is one of the Arkansas Activities Association requirements for Foreman High School to host the annual state softball tournament. Foreman’s Lady Gators have won the Class AA state tournament five years in a row, and the city will now be able to bid to host future district and regional softball tournaments. Horn was excited at the prospect for the fields. “Being able to bring tournaments to Foreman will help Foreman’s economy,” Horn said.
The park project is the result of the efforts of Sen. Horn and former Rep. Cowling who both worked to help secure over $400,000 for the project. Total funds include a $228,000 grant from Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, a $48,300 grant from the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program and a $150,000 grant from the State General Improvement fund. The ADPT grant is a matching grant, according to Woods, and in-kind services and donations from Teton, as well as the Foreman School District, can be used to match the state funds.