By: Hope Durkee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — The city of Fayetteville proposed nine bond issues on the ballot of the recent election. While all of them passed, Bond #8, which proposed the building of an aquatic center, provided the closest result—50.71% to 49.29%.

The project will be funded through the city’s existing one-cent sales tax, meaning that there will be no increases in taxes for residents. The goal is to provide the area with year-round access to swimming and fitness opportunities.

Fayetteville has identified Lewis Park Soccer Complex as the preferred building site. Before the election, there was some pushback from the community. A “Save Lewis Park” website, petition and hashtag circulated online, and yard signs appeared around the area opposing the bond.

Although it narrowly passed, Alison Jumper, the director of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation, said it has no impact on the construction plans.

“The way that the bond works is it just passes by a simple majority, which it did,” she said. “We’ll be moving forward with this project like we will for all of the other projects in the bond effort.”

She said believes this project will be beneficial for both the community and the park.

“The development of the aquatic center will be, adding amenities for the neighborhood,” Jumper said. “So really, it will just be improving an already great park.”

Lewis Park became the preferred site after the city administered a feasibility study to evaluate 18 possible sites. Consultants recently looked at all the sites again and have confirmed it is still the preferred location.

The facility will include indoor and outdoor pools, space for swim lessons, slides, a lazy river, a competition pool and fitness areas, along with keeping some of the outdoor soccer fields.

Jumper said the endeavor is in response to a public input process the city conducted several years ago to evaluate the needs and priorities of the community. They then used the results to develop a 10-year parks and recreation master plan. They are working to bring the project to life.

“Right now, all we have is a concept of the building and the facility. We will need to move through all of the design phases, which will include schematic design and design development to work through all the details and develop construction drawings and then put it out to bid. So, there’s quite a bit of work to do to get it ready for build.”

Jumper said the building of the aquatic center is expected to start in 2027.