Hot Springs City hires Haps Associates to develop sports recreation master plan

The City of Hot Springs Board of Directors voted to authorize an agreement with Haps Associates Inc. to develop a comprehensive sports recreation master plan that city staff said will guide short- and long-term improvements for public sports facilities.

City staff and directors said the plan will prioritize soccer, tennis and pickleball and include community input through focus groups, advisory-committee meetings and pop-up engagement. Adam Mujery, the city’s sports recreation manager, told the board the plan will set a strategic direction for facility upgrades and programming and that it was selected from eight respondents to the city’s request for qualifications.

Mujery said the consultant’s four-phase approach — “discover, assess, create, activate” — includes a Phase 3 conceptual design step that will provide cost estimates. “The conceptual including cost estimates is included under that phase,” Mujery said. He also described an “outreach toolbox” of focus groups, pop-up booths, project surveys and an option for student events; some outreach items, such as student events and walkshops, were optional in the proposal and will be considered by staff.

Director Dudley Webb pressed for specifics about the outreach and how the board will be involved. Webb asked that the kickoff date be shared with directors once the contract is signed and volunteered to serve on the advisory committee if the board approved such participation. Mujery said the kickoff will occur once the contract is executed and urged directors not to unduly influence the consultant’s community listening process: “I want them to come in and listen to the community and make decisions from there,” he said.

Public comment supported a regional approach. Resident Steve Clemens urged the city to partner with Garland County and noted growing demand for public pickleball courts among residents and visitors. The board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution R-25-133 authorizing the agreement; the roll call recorded aye votes from Marsha Dodd Smith, Dudley Webb, Trustee, Phyllis Beard and Mayor Pat McCabe.

Next steps: staff said they will finalize the contract, share the kickoff date with the board and begin community outreach under the consultant’s scope. The plan’s cost estimates and funding options will be part of Phase 3 work, at which point the city expects to examine public-private partnership models and potential A&P or YMCA participation in operation or funding.