Repairing the foundation under the fountain at Basin Spring Park has been put off for years.
During that time, the well-known downtown structure that is visited by thousands each year, has continued to slowly cave into the ground.
The Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation Department has recently developed a plan to have a company take care of the repairs, and now just needs city partners to help with the costs.
The Basin Spring Park fountain was the main topic of discussion at the park commission’s monthly meeting held Tuesday, Jan. 21. Parks director Sam Dudley told commissioners that a recent Request for Proposals published only received one response, an offer from Stacy’s Stone Works of Eureka Springs, at a cost of $130,000.
“I kind of expected that just because of the unique nature of the the job,” Dudley said of only receiving one bid. “It’s not like we’re patching a road or something that’s very quantifiable or easy to explain.
“It’s like we’re digging up a park. We kind of know what we’ll find underneath there, but we’re not really sure. So, we did get the bid of $130,00 to come in, remove stonework around the fountain, excavate underneath, pull out all the dirt and refortify the base.”
Stacy Stone Work’s bid also includes bringing in an engineer once excavation is complete to get a better feel for what will be necessary to properly make the needed repairs, Dudley said.
During the repairs, not all of the park will be closed, but a certain area would be fenced off, Dudley said.
“So, at the moment, I’m just kind of searching around, putting feelers out, to other local organizations like CAPC, where we’re saying, we’re going to need some help,” Dudley said. “Otherwise, it’s going to just have to get put off for another year probably.”
Commission chair Mark Ingram said he didn’t feel comfortable with the parks commission committing more than $55,000 for the project, while Dudley said he planned to ask the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission for $75,000 to $100,000 for the project during its next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29.
“I think if [the CAPC] gives us the minimum, that leaves us with $55,000 on our end,” Dudley said. “I’m kind of like, is that something we can bite off?”
Dudley mentioned organizations such as the Eureka Springs Preservation Society and Main Street Eureka as groups he also plans to reach out to for funding or grant opportunities.
“I personally wouldn’t be willing to say, ‘yes, you can have this much money,’ yet, until I know how much money [parks gets committed from other groups],” Ingram said.
Dudley was given the green light to proceed with the Stacy’s Stone Work bid knowing how much the parks department can commit, while seeking other funding, commissioners discussed.
“Something has to give,” Ingram said of the urgency for the repairs. “They’ve known it for 10, 15 years [that repairs are needed.] “It’s a long time. You just come to a point where you can’t keep pretending like you don’t know it’s caving in. It’s not getting any better and it’s not going to get better.”
All commissioners agreed that the CAPC, and many other groups, have a vested interest in the fountain and Basin Spring Park, and also agreed that if work is going to get underway this year, it needs to happen in the next handful of weeks.
“Fortunately, the concert series doesn’t start until much later in May or something like that,” Dudley said. “But March is always a busy time in Eureka in general. But then once you get past March, April’s a little bit slower. But then it’s also like starting to pick up and we’re starting to do our gardening and planting. And you definitely don’t want to be tearing stuff up in April with all the rain.”
Ingram reminded commissioners that while part of the park will be fenced off during repairs, foot traffic will still be allowed around the area.
“If we wait for anything, we will never get this done because every week will be something else that somebody is doing,” Ingram aid.
“We live in a town where there is no good time,” commissioner Beth Giltner added.
Dudley said he estimates it will take approximately three to four weeks to complete the project.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Dudley told commissioners that the holiday season was a success, mentioning the department’s purchase of allnew decorations and its part in the “Bash with a Splash” New Year’s Eve event.
“A huge shout out to Basin Park Hotel and the CAPC and everyone who helped with the Bash with a Splash event,” he said. “I thought it was kind of fun. It was a cool first year doing it and was really well-attended for a Tuesday night, especially. I’m hoping they continue to do it because it was fun and a good way to showcase some Eureka talent and get people outside. Plus, another excuse to get into [Basin Park].”
Dudley told commissioners that repairs to the north wall of the main level at Basin Spring Park have recently been completed and stairs at the park are currently being refurbished.
A deposit was made recently for fireworks for Friday, July 4, for the annual Jamboreeka celebration at Lake Leatherwood Park, Dudley said, and the department’s apartment building at Harmon Park recently passed electrical and plumbing inspections.
FINANCIALS STRONG
The commission approved the fourth-quarter financials with Dudley reporting that the department finished the year almost $100,000 better than what was projected.
“We were budgeted a net loss of $38,500,” he said.
Dudley added that the department was up 25 percent over what was projected for the final four months of the year.
OFFICERS REMAIN
The commission voted to keep the same officers for 2025 as Ingram remains chair, Rodd Gray vice chair and Aaron Borey secretary.
