City revises parks code, sets $500-per-day tournament fee at Kimry Park and opens pavilion discounts to Garland County

The Hot Springs City Board adopted Ordinance O-26-25 on June 2, revising Title 11 of the city code to reflect a merged Parks and Recreation department, adding definitions for playing courts and athletic fields, and establishing a flat tournament fee at Kimry Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Anthony Whittington told the board that over 90% of tournaments at Kimry Park use all four fields; staff compared fees with comparable central Arkansas parks and recommended a $500 per tournament per day flat fee that includes scoreboards and lights. He said reservation kiosks and bulletin postings will continue to show reservations and that pavilion reservation policy was simplified so Garland County residents receive a reduced rate ($10/hour) while non-county users pay $20/hour.

Directors asked about reservation lead times (staff said pavilion reservations generally require 14 days' notice and tournaments often require a week or more), the physical kiosk locations (bulletin-board kiosks at parks; Kimry kiosks were temporarily down for replacement), and why Kimry fees now cover all four fields rather than single-field rentals (staff said most bookings reserve all fields and the change reduces scheduling conflicts and better matches comparable regional fees).

The ordinance passed on roll-call vote with all members recorded as 'I.' Staff said the changes align Kimry Park fees with peer facilities and clarified reservation and fee procedures.

Action: O-26-25 adopted; staff to implement code language and updated reservation/fee practices.