Jonesboro Parks & Rec reports busy quarter of tournaments, facility upgrades and tree plantings

Danny, a Parks and Recreation staff member, told the board on Nov. 19 that the department hosted a heavy slate of events over the past quarter and is preparing facility improvements and programming for the year ahead.

The update opened with recent volleyball activity. “We had 98 teams over the weekend,” Danny said, adding that 83 teams were from out of town and 43 of those were from out of state. Parks used community centers and school gyms from Jonesboro, Nettleton and Valley View to stage the event, he said, spread across 22 courts in town.

The department is already signing teams for a Feb. 8 tournament and reported 86 teams registered for that event. Danny said current city facilities cap tournaments at about 100 teams; he estimated a future sports complex would allow hosting two- or three-day events and raise weekend hotel stays and economic impact. “At that point, you know, we should be hosting 6 or 8 of these tournaments here in Jonesboro,” he said.

Danny summarized other recent and planned recreation activity: three elementary basketball tournaments since mid-December that brought “over 200 teams” through city facilities, nearly 1,000 children enrolled in the recreational (City Stars) basketball program, expansion of junior-high softball to about 30 teams, and plans for a first baseball tournament at Joe Mack this February. The department is also coordinating a pickleball tournament with the Lions Club and meeting with tennis and soccer organizers about upcoming seasons and facility needs.

On capital projects, Danny said lighting poles have been installed around Craighead Forest and the department is finalizing whether one delivered pole is missing. “Every time I’m out there, I have people stop me and they’re thanking me for what’s going on,” he said, noting the trail lighting will make the park usable after work hours in fall and winter.

Restrooms at Joe Mack Campbell Park were remodeled; the department plans similar work at the soccer facility with new countertops, paint and doors in the coming months. Danny said Parker Park’s driveway and a walkway linking Parker Park and Miles Park are completed and landscaped, improving access for buses and pedestrians.

Danny also highlighted tree-planting efforts. “We planted last year in our park system, 299 trees,” he said, and noted two pending grants that together would add roughly 190 more trees across parks. He described other beautification work at the shooting range and updates to the “welcome to Jonesboro” signage.

Staffing and concessions: Danny introduced Octavius Mitchell as the full-time concessions manager who has reorganized inventory and staffing at concession stands. On staffing for programming, Danny said the department hopes to recruit an assistant who can help run tournaments next year.

Swim lessons: Danny said swim lessons will resume after Memorial Day and the department is coordinating with local clubs (Jets and SWAT) and the Red Cross for certifications and programming. “We won’t start anything till after Memorial Day when it comes to actual swim lessons,” he said; Red Cross provides certification materials while city staff conduct training.

Grants and playgrounds: Danny said Parks won the Legacy Outdoor Rec grant and is pursuing other grants to replace aging playgrounds, beginning with University Lines, and will use a combination of grant funding and budgeted money for replacements and natural-play features.

The update closed with an invitation for ideas from council members and the community as the department plans long-range improvements.