Shuttle service for riders at the Lake Leatherwood bike park is headed back under the Eureka Springs Parks Department’s management.
At its Sept. 15 meeting, the Parks Commission approved spending up to $25,000 to purchase a vehicle to transport trail riders. Private operators have provided shuttle service at various times in the past.
Parks director Sam Dudley also outlined plans to eventually hire a bike park manager who would oversee the shuttle service, help maintain the trails and market the park to riders visiting Northwest Arkansas.
“I think the biggest change is this is more of the shift in mentality of like, we’re not hiring a shuttle manager, we are hiring a bike park manager,” Dudley said of his plans.
“… I’m kind of shifting into that idea of needing someone who can be multifaceted and do lots of things, because otherwise, we just have someone sitting in a shuttle waiting for people to show up, whether they show up or not.
So, I want to make sure that person is capable of doing trail work, capable of doing social media, capable of … marketing, going over to Bentonville to the new bike park over there and why not hand out flyers, and someone who can really just kind of push the narrative and take our trails to the next level in terms of marketing and publicity. I think we’ve got great stuff here. We just need to push it a little more.”
Commissioners agreed that Eureka Springs’ trails may be overlooked by riders who frequent trails in Bentonville and Bella Vista.
“From the beginning of doing these downhill trails, from the time that all started to today, Northwest Arkansas as a whole has skyrocketed in mountain biking,” commissioner Mark Ingram said. “… I think that we are not getting our share of it because we’ve just kind of gone along. So, I do think there is a lot of potential.”
Dudley said he would like shuttle service to begin as soon as the department can acquire an appropriate vehicle. The department could hire someone part time to drive the shuttle while it considers candidates for the bike park manager position.
Dudley said the department could have brought in approximately $80,000 in the past if it had been able to accommodate all riders seeking shuttle service.
Ingram said the commission needed to address the long-term plan for the position separately from the immediate purchase of a shuttle. Hiring a full-time bike park manager would likely be considered during next year’s budget discussions, he said.
“I mean, if we got the shuttle, if the right one came up, I mean I would be down to hire someone just part-time for now,” Dudley said. “… The position would ultimately be full-time, but I’m thinking in the meantime, like if we can find just someone to drive the shuttle, not necessarily the bike park manager position.”
Slides in Dudley’s presentation estimated the cost of a bike park manager at $58,000 to $63,000, including benefits.
“I think if we find the right person, I think we can make money, or at least break even, which is sort of my goal at least for the first year or two, is just to break even because we’re kind of building the reputation back, we’re working out the kinks and all that,” Dudley said. “My hope is that eventually we’ll make, not enough to do anything crazy, but $20,000, $25,000 a year off shuttle operations, and also it will boost lodging and general sales down at Leatherwood and bring more sales tax for the town.”
OTHER ITEMS
The commission also approved a $2,500 budget increase to help pay for a new pergola at Crescent Spring. The amount covers half the cost; Sharon Roberts, the department’s gardens specialist, raised the remainder, Dudley said.
Dudley told commissioners that the Eureka Springs Preservation Society recently donated $15,500 to help restore the Crescent gazebo.
The department’s annual fall tree giveaway will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Gotahold Brewing.
“We’ll have 350 trees that we’re giving away,” Dudley said.
The city also recently learned that it has again received a Tree City USA designation.
“We are the longest-standing tree city in Arkansas,” Dudley said.
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