[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6276962,"mediaKeyId","2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e","parentId",2658455,"title","Conway Community Center slated to open mid‑summer; parks report high sports participation and tournament schedule","audioSeconds",4508,"startMs",2492000,"endMs",7000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e&start=2492&end=7000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6276962/Conway-City/Faulkner-County/Arkansas/Conway-Community-Center-slated-to-open-midsummer-parks-report-high-sports-participation-and-tournament-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276962-c4d80ddff660df35baf86c9c570c200c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569863&Signature=dtkTvZP-WFHgkMVjTs4su4PnVVaZFfo2XwfrzNFINKFVrknwFK0oAd2IYKy~MH3Phd3PLY5hQfZgMr50vEbXWw5izR1jr-y9648wOSVG-XkwDNd2ODjLdQhETAVGjkfq2JxHYZaSbVaaDTEIVb34AYgSPUy5nVyA6gWBPVwMyWnUveimduKFapfh3WXsiWPo2b72dfhx0vvpo8hMp4V44lnnfkygAZjLU4Xw7Oya13neyDCtzE5tNqNaahTM0IcSElOVlrGNW4F~Nkpoa27iUoQu17e5dmymvwP4p8qAUBIl3aJ6IX0aHQOVJiD4BqPpUHE0q~ysKfjKg9XscJLKmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Conway, AR","date","2025-03-16T04:06:49Z","article","City parks and community‑recreation staff updated the council on facility openings, program participation and planned improvements.

Felicia Rogers briefed the council on the Conway Community Center. She said interior construction is well advanced, with floors and doors in place, leisure‑pool finishes underway and fixtures being installed. The center will include indoor and outdoor aquatics, a competition pool, eight volleyball courts, 12 pickleball courts, fitness space, community meeting rooms and rentable party rooms. Rogers said the city plans to begin membership sales 45–60 days before a mid‑summer opening.

Andrew Thames of Parks & Recreation reported that Conway’s new soccer complex and turf fields have supported high participation: more than 700 children signed up for recreational soccer this year and the city has 45 baseball/softball tournament weekends scheduled for 2025. Parks staff also listed 20 volleyball/basketball tournaments, 76 expo events and 25 tennis events currently on the calendar. Thames said splash pads at Laurel, Fifth Avenue and the soccer complex are scheduled to open Monday, May 12 at 9 a.m.

Additional parks work noted included pickleball courts at Fifth Avenue (lighting and equipment installation in progress), bathrooms planned for MLK Park and Pompey Park, fans being added to dugouts at Conway Station to reduce turf heat, a pump track reconstruction at Pompey Park and ongoing maintenance and renovation needs at older recreational facilities. Thames said the city is considering future projects such as turfing additional fields and renovating Don Owen and McGee facilities.

Staff positioned the community center and sports investments as contributors to local quality of life and as drivers of sports tourism that bring out‑of‑town teams to Conway.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 15, 2025 - Special City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff said the community center should open mid‑summer with pools, courts and meeting space; parks leaders reported more than 700 youth soccer signups, numerous tournaments and new turf fields that support year‑round play.","taxTitle","Conway City, Faulkner County, Arkansas","taxId",3550,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6276967,"Fire chief warns of long lead times for apparatus, outlines ambulance goal; department keeps ISO Class 1 rating",1446,6880000,8326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e&start=6880&end=8326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e/thumbnail_6880000.jpg","/articles/6276967/Conway-City/Faulkner-County/Arkansas/Fire-chief-warns-of-long-lead-times-for-apparatus-outlines-ambulance-goal-department-keeps-ISO-Class-1-rating","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276967-e8f8273342e1fe9a20c8eadc40ccc4c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569863&Signature=fC-7-K9IijIvJABk3Pqs2esmJ9f3WP3HHhEycVV3LGpjajvZm-5hw5aI0TgN5xY-QBYbFJjOFHlDzkWhagnsAAR8ukyAYQy-hU0D9WzsIbdBe5yShpi8xXVtBmLrVpepi-srrXMcVtuC0WMNv0EnIaNjLfC6iDqCIUI-xtH2fESDtUwHZSO3kla20RAQVRtyPAK~SsCndxZ5FpsY5yaKprKWVs~nHEXGD-Ghm8kpoCIEVfeRL6X4DdBp5AiHGysi6KBhgHWIriygHOEAIBgdQzyZ2jfC024GndK8Bx1VsKykhY3saDqm0zcE2Uw-S7~h1HAj3qiXtCzuE6GAq8SM1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Conway’s fire chief reported operational accomplishments and long-term needs at the state‑of‑the‑city briefing, citing sustained high call volumes, delayed apparatus delivery timelines and substantial capital needs.

Chief Mike Winner said the department maintained a Class 1 ISO public‑protection rating after its most recent reevaluation, and described the medic training program that produces city paramedics. He told the council call volume increased about 65% from 2019 to 2024 and that 70–75% of calls in 2024 were medical in nature.

Chief Winner and the mayor discussed apparatus ordering and lead times: the mayor had earlier told the council that engines cost about $1 million and aerial apparatus roughly $1.5 million. Chief Winner said vehicles ordered in 2021 are still pending and that lead times for engines are typically three to four years with trucks four to five years. The chief presented department estimates that replacing radios, self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) and apparatus could total roughly $9.5 million at current prices; he also said grant applications are pending for radios and that SCBAs will need replacement within about four years.

On emergency medical services, chief and mayor said the department’s long‑term goal is to provide municipal ambulance service rather than rely exclusively on the current private provider (Pafford). They discussed up‑front capital needs to stand up city ambulance service and said studies done in prior decades indicated the program could be revenue‑positive after several years; chief Winner said city provision of ambulance service is a stated department objective and that further study and budgeting would be required.

Chief Winner identified stationing and response‑time implications tied to growth in southwest Conway and said the department needs a funding source to amortize capital purchases and reduce dependence on aging apparatus.","The Conway Fire Department reported maintaining a Class 1 ISO rating, a 65% increase in call volume since 2019, delayed apparatus deliveries ordered in 2021, and departmental goals to expand medic staffing and ultimately operate city ambulances.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6276972,"Conway expands crisis response and victim services; police note fleet aging and recruitment changes",2606,1600000,4206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e&start=1600&end=4206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e/thumbnail_1600000.jpg","/articles/6276972/Conway-City/Faulkner-County/Arkansas/Conway-expands-crisis-response-and-victim-services-police-note-fleet-aging-and-recruitment-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276972-1b4af60b4787c2bccc54cbde0aad767a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569863&Signature=JXNurnZHK0-lkv8P4ERh0HFUQxW6KdKRrsBvcipgZ1yRSbP8ohtXaCYHn-7sxsRtwqwQQ1O3-~3nBwz1FR1u~EsEaJBI9YAUrDppOos2hkWrZs2wNThgfxxrvnrdukgFfRG4~iiQOd5euJgzAPXc0ha8bMQSfgVH0S7Ct8JZROJjlamTvk81P5u0T42xjgoHsZhQC0~DGoPjTwDvqeBN6oErTmpvl9g3AOiv1FN3UWNDZ5rd~3wbtCG76~D5emkly12JAl3IQQOFAdM1NuBMZndxhwUCkwbaUA-QA2a2mzbQW-OBnzgjNfCqXQRyZyCLPl4Rp5pzzz6RZZPbe56kkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials described changes to public-safety response models and ongoing operational needs for the police department during the state-of-the-city briefing.

The mayor said Conway Police made salary adjustments to retain and recruit officers and highlighted the city’s community crisis response team, which pairs trained mental‑health professionals with dispatch responses so that not every call automatically results in arrest or transport. The mayor reported the team responds to roughly 13–16 calls per day and said first‑year savings from dispatching that team instead of police, fire and Pafford ambulance were “about 1,500,000” (as reported to the mayor).

Police Chief Harris briefed the council on crime statistics and victim services. He said violent crime was down 1% and property crime down 15% in 2024 compared with the prior year; when Chief Harris excluded incidents that occur inside certain mandated‑reporter residential facilities, he said violent crime would appear down more sharply. Chief Harris also reported that since approval of a full‑time victim service coordinator and an additional part‑time position, the department has recorded 947 victim interactions.

Chief Harris described equipment and fleet needs: he said the department’s fleet count was “roughly 140 vehicles” and that 73 of those vehicles had more than 100,000 miles; he noted some vehicles have entered pursuit or crash damage and that vehicle replacement costs have risen. In answer to questions, staff said a fully equipped police vehicle costs about $95,000 (includes computer, camera, printer and setup) compared with roughly $60,000 several years earlier.

Chief Harris also noted the department lacks an onsite shooting range and currently relies on a contractual arrangement with an outside range; if that private option became unavailable, the department would need to identify a replacement.

Officials emphasized several distinctions in the record: the crisis response team is intended to match needs to services, not replace law enforcement in all cases; victim services are proactive outreach based on reports; and reported cost and fleet figures were given by staff as department estimates rather than binding budget allocations.","Officials said Conway’s community crisis response team (behavioral health unit) is responding to about 13–16 calls per day, the city has added a victim services coordinator with nearly 950 interactions since approval, and police described an aging fleet needing replacement.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6276977,"Conway outlines major road, bridge and roundabout projects; city seeks utility coordination",6367,1201000,7568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e&start=1201&end=7568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e/thumbnail_1201000.jpg","/articles/6276977/Conway-City/Faulkner-County/Arkansas/Conway-outlines-major-road-bridge-and-roundabout-projects-city-seeks-utility-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276977-8d510e5ab6c8828037361260c0fa773c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569863&Signature=gI-T9A8w~5tULW~S5ljegXVRSW-n6ZBfHgkDF6~P1FISURPw9UqH-sFo8SLOUvukStnodDEHboh5ReOEp1k3TwfQlwOBoGkcj6pTd1Y~CPRyTFehrZpWRJoWOyn0WHyE7RK19kdENxJd89MmOQOb5OJamj9tBS9IJC3PN5hvH9sdLZViSzSLht5gho48Qm26WxeXmSb2bz9NIYPfHjSPp2jpUt3DvK~n~2q3IFyBLOfbum1SkEd8oRYd0r72z72eFU1-L4aG77Ky4gT1FfT1g1HSdJvjPyjCG-Ye8rdxsAnMz6KAX9Qt8hGIEZDwJBbJjUcSwDd-VvCThR6WaAvk9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City leaders and transportation staff reviewed several large and smaller roadway projects that officials say are intended to improve safety and traffic flow across Conway.

The mayor described Salem Bridge work, the planned pedestrian underpass beneath the bridge and safety-driven projects such as the Harkrider corridor (Oak to Bruce) with center turn lanes and sidewalks. The mayor said the city has “over a hundred miles of new asphalt on the ground or on our streets.” He listed several roundabouts either complete or planned: Prince/Country Club, Highway 64 at Hogan, and Salem at Meadowlake.

Kurt and Jacob from the city’s transportation/street department gave a longer briefing on project status and costs. Kurt said the Salem Bridge roadway was expected to be passable by late spring with project completion later in the summer, and that the Harkrider widening has experienced schedule changes tied to required utility relocations. He described the Dave Ward corridor project (Harkrider to I‑40) as a major median-divided reconstruction with three lanes each direction.

Transportation staff noted funding and scheduling limits: an estimate to overlay every street on a 20‑year cycle would require roughly $4,000,000 per year in today’s dollars; the city currently averages about $1,500,000 per year on overlays. Jacob described the department’s pavement assessment program and said the city uses traffic counts and a condition-ranking program to prioritize overlays.

Longer-term concepts discussed included a Western arterial loop and an eastern connector from Highway 64 toward I‑65; Kurt said the Western loop is expensive and would require a new funding source. He said the East‑West bypass remains on the radar and had been discussed with federal representatives in February.

Staff answered questions about drainage and noted there is no dedicated off‑right‑of‑way drainage funding; establishing a drainage funding mechanism was described as a possible future step.","City officials reviewed ongoing and upcoming transportation projects including Salem Bridge, Harkrider improvements, multiple roundabouts and long-term bypass concepts, and described utility relocations and funding as key schedule constraints.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6276982,"Conway leaders highlight multimillion-dollar investments, hotel and convention center prospects",739,1122000,1861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e&start=1122&end=1861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658455-965e01fea843ba8c8d5c0b6b593bf79e/thumbnail_1122000.jpg","/articles/6276982/Conway-City/Faulkner-County/Arkansas/Conway-leaders-highlight-multimillion-dollar-investments-hotel-and-convention-center-prospects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276982-db45517974166533fdadd1c44c7d4ad2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569863&Signature=kX6p1Gz0dE1AUMoTGpX6Noo1bbM57aW-JpInQORIbJvyKDRloNAOlzkwFGkX22gzhi2dBQy~YQ1ORS5o9vvRXMdW3i4hEpONmwY7EQ~wJiI18vXgFGASmu~XqoCFrwpvY5KZuzO5RztrzNWBz6iOSuwF2suchrv962iMXdTK7wlcA2FQzF4FX03dYtTKXik15OLsShXRqb8PLW~AQ97DeXDlV6vTBZ~TUrej-DxuwlYhNutxvIhDXTA604cWqXteuIjEydLkkMajHeaC8FGI~9qwBrbpgobyFhwmO~dOkLhCj0RRT9m7kbWg12fQ-JvKznB-3F0YbOWgz7lDyXNu-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor of Conway provided an update on private investment and recruiting activity that city leaders say is bringing new jobs and commercial projects to Conway.

The mayor said Clayton Homes ownership has changed hands and that a new company is preparing to occupy that site, and singled out a project by Central Coast Solutions described by the mayor as a $40,000,000 investment near WestRock Coffee. He also said there is interest from a “bridal entity or individual” in a convention center and hotel at Lewis Crossing and that some prospects discussed in city meetings are considering investments that could reach into the billions, with employment at buildout the mayor said could exceed 800 jobs.

The projects were presented as context for broader planning discussions rather than items requiring immediate council action. The mayor framed the announcements as an explanation for the city’s need to plan for workforce housing, streets, utilities and public amenities as private investment arrives.

Mayor (unnamed in transcript) said the city has “several economic projects in the pipeline” and described the Central Coast Solutions investment and the Lewis Crossing hotel/convention prospect. He thanked a person identified only as “Mister Hawkins” for working with the city on the Lewis Crossing prospect.

City officials did not provide full development agreements, company names in every case or specific timelines beyond general optimism about progress. The mayor repeatedly emphasized that some project details remain in negotiation and that jobs and dollar figures were reported as projections discussed with prospective investors.

The economic update was given as part of a broader “state of the city” presentation and was followed by department briefings on transportation, public safety and parks.

Planning and permit timelines, utility coordination and outside-agency relocations were noted as constraints that commonly slow project starts; officials cited the need to coordinate with utility providers and state transportation timelines.","City officials reported multiple private investments and economic-development prospects in Conway, citing a $40 million project near WestRock Coffee, interest in a convention center and hotel at Lewis Crossing and discussions of projects that could create hundreds of jobs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Conway Community Center slated to open mid‑summer; parks report high sports participation and tournament schedule

Fire chief warns of long lead times for apparatus, outlines ambulance goal; department keeps ISO Class 1 rating

Conway expands crisis response and victim services; police note fleet aging and recruitment changes

Conway outlines major road, bridge and roundabout projects; city seeks utility coordination

Conway leaders highlight multimillion-dollar investments, hotel and convention center prospects