Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City reports rising downtown visitors, launches gondola rides and pilots gunshot detectors ahead of Riverwalk ribbon cutting
Summary
City staff told council that downtown visitation and dwell time have risen since 2017, announced a free gondola attraction on Kingston Lake sponsored by Conway Medical Center, a Riverwalk ribbon-cutting set for Thursday, and a trial deployment of acoustic gunshot detectors.
The city administrator reported to the Conway City Council on Feb. 3 that downtown Conway has seen sustained increases in visitors since 2017 and highlighted a series of seasonal attractions and public-safety trials intended to build on that momentum.
"For the first time ever, we're likely to hit 2,000,000 total visitors downtown," the administrator said, citing internal counts comparing 2017 and 2024 visitor data and noting increases in average daily and weekend visitors and average dwell time.
As part of ongoing seasonal programming, the administrator said the city will open a Valentine's Village on the town green and run free gondola rides on Kingston Lake, Thursday through Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. through Feb. 16; the gondola rides are free and sponsored by Conway Medical Center. The administrator also noted extended seasonal lighting and decorations and an expanded Riverwalk extension project; the council was told a Riverwalk ribbon cutting is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.
On public safety, staff said the police department is trialing acoustic gunshot-detection devices mounted on poles in some areas of the city. Staff emphasized the devices are acoustical detectors, not cameras or small-cell communications equipment, and said they triangulate shots and notify dispatch when they detect gunfire; officials said a successful trial occurred during the device's initial days online.
Staff also reported the city is working with consultants Rogers Lewis and the Department of Archives and History to add nearly 50 properties to an existing historic district; property owners will receive notification and the state review is scheduled for March 21.
Council members and downtown stakeholders discussed the need to balance retail, restaurants and professional services in downtown and the potential for incentives and planning discussion at the upcoming budget retreat.
The items were presented for information; no formal council action was taken during the report.
