Winter weather may yet to be over for the season, but that’s not stopping the Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Department from eyeing warmer temperatures and an influx of springtime visitors.

At the regular monthly meeting of the parks department held Tuesday, Feb. 17, director Sam Dudley said his department is getting a jumpstart on various projects in preparation for an anticipated busy Spring Break season.

“So since the last meeting we’ve had a little bit of a weather issue that kind of disrupted our operations,” Dudley said of snow and ice that blanketed the area in late January. “That always kind of throws us off a little bit.

“But, with March approaching, we feel like things are kind of ramping up again.”

A list of recent spring cleaning projects includes work at Basin Spring Park and Lake Leatherwood, commissioners were told.

“We started some projects for the Basin Park second phase from the Banks Family Foundation,” Dudley said. “You guys may or may not have seen … but [we’ve] been out there power washing … and leaf blowing … and getting the plaza cleaned up, so it’s gonna look really nice for Spring Break.

“I went out there for a little bit and spray painted some of the hand railings where paint had chipped off from the Christmas decorations. So, just trying to make sure everything’s looking good. … I’m looking forward to Spring Break.”

At Lake Leatherwood, projects have included new memory foam mattresses in all of the cabins, Dudley said.

“They’re super nice,” he said. “Very comfortable. … They’re very nice. More comfortable than the thing I sleep on at home.”

The interior of Cabin 5 has been repainted and regularly serviced water dispensers have been added to the visitors center and bait shop, Dudley said.

“We also did a bunch of tree pruning and removed some cedars that were kind of blocking views and stuff like that, and get it ready for the spring,” he said. “Make it easier to mow so you’re not getting slapped in the face with branches. And then we redid the seats on the concrete benches, just went and got some new lumber and installed those. Those look a lot nicer. And, we did a bunch of merchandise, shirts and other kind of things, just inventorying those to make sure we’re good to go.

“Texas Spring Break will be here before we know it, and we’ll be busy again.”

Other projects currently ongoing are repairs of the Harmon Street parks department building, the director added.

“I know it’s been kind of an eyesore for a while, but it is finally getting repaired,” Dudley said. “We did get the insurance money, so it’s not costing us anything to get fixed, which is great.”