The Hot Springs Village POA Parks and Recreation (P&R) Committee met on Monday, July 11, 2022, at the Coronado Community Center at 3:00 PM.

Yak/Run

A big focus of the P & R Committee is the upcoming Yak/Run. They have developed a website for the event and hope to make this an annual affair. Participants may kayak and run or just participate in one activity. You need not run if you prefer to walk. Click here to find out more information about this exciting September 17th event.

Board and GM Met With Committee Chairs/Vice-Chairs

P & R Committee Chair, Deb Fuller, said she attended a committee chair/vice-chair gathering with General Manager, Kelly Hale, and HSV Board Directors. Fuller said, “they talked through our responsibilities and how they are going to start partnering more with us [the committees] in what we are doing.” They clarified committee responsibilities and some of the things they want us to focus on over the next few months.

The committees will give twice-yearly reports to the Board instead of quarterly reports.

Director of Parks and Recreation Report to Committee

Parks and Recreation Director, Terry Wiley, said that all of the P & R capital projects in the 2022 budget have been approved, started, or completed. “We don’t have anything still just sitting there,” said Wiley.

Wiley said that they were starting the maintenance of the DeSoto Multipurpose Trail. It is planned to keep the trail open during this renovation. Two small parts of the trail are owned by Cooper Communities, Inc. but CCI will quit claim these trail sections to the POA.

Wiley stated, “The fireworks show went well.” This is the most expensive event the P & R Department funds and the department will begin to look for more donations for next year’s show. This year (2022) there were around $6,000 in sponsorships.

The date for next year’s fireworks show will be decided soon because there is a limited amount of companies available to shoot the fireworks on the 4th of July and if this is not decided quickly, we will not be able to find someone to conduct the fireworks show.

The next couple of months are typically slow and Wiley is focusing on the Seven-year Operations and Maintenance Tables and the recreation department fee structure.

Wiley said there should be a package deal for the rental of the Coronado Community Center auditorium. Currently, the fees are not customer-friendly.

Due to lack of interest, the P & R amenity bundle deal will not include golf in the future.

Grant Opportunities

Most of the grant opportunities are in the arts and theatre area. “A lot of municipalities get grants,” said Wiley. But because HSV is gated and not a municipality, we don’t usually get grants. GM Kelly Hale and the Board are trying to find grant loopholes.

Maureen Morgan, P & R Committee Secretary, updated the committee on a recent grant, which was an exception. This grant was from the Hot Springs Village Arts Council and is being used for lighting for the Woodlands auditorium.

Paddlers Club Events – Calvin Doody

Committee member Calvin Doody shared two upcoming paddling events:

  • Cardboard Boat Derby on July 30 at Balboa Beach. at 9:00 am. Click here to read about this event. At the time of the P & R Committee meeting, no one had signed up for this event. The inclement weather date is July 31.
  • Kayak Demo/Tryout Day on August 27 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Waypoint at Lake DeSoto Marina, 120 Marina Rd. Click here to read about this event. The rain date is August 29, 2022.

Maureen Morgan invited everyone to attend Vintage Hitchcock. Click here for more information. Tickets are available at hsvplayers.com.

Morgan also reminded folks about the Voices Rising summer concert on Sunday, August 7. Click here for more information. Tickets may be purchased here. Get your tickets today!

Mark Quinton, Vice Chair, said the Archery Range is being kept in immaculate condition by staff.

Fuller said the committee is short one committee member and a way to advertise this and generate interest with potential committee candidates would be to make a flyer.

Ad Hoc Cooper Land Evaluation Committee Report

Mark Quinton has been serving on the ad hoc committee and he implored everyone to read the report. This report will be presented to the Board of Directors at the July 20, 2022 Board Meeting and should be published soon.

Regarding Cedar Creek Trails, Quinton said the committee has uncovered some issues that need to be considered.

  • The water source for Lake Balboa comes from this parcel. If somebody bought the Cedar Creek parcel, what might they do with the water? The committee doesn’t know what the water rights are.
  • The Cedar Creek land is to be listed with a national real estate company that lists deer leases. Will the land be sold to be used as a deer lease?
  • Quinton said it was his opinion that the POA needs to buy the Cedar Creek Land. Although the original price being asked for this land was $1 MM, this price may change as CCI will be obtaining an appraisal.

CCI is asking $5,000 for the Coronado Golf Cart Parking lot. The general committee consensus is this should be purchased as there is no other location that could be used for this purpose.

Report by Cheryl Dowden