Page 24 - 2025 Van Buren Chamber Community Profile

QUALITY OF PLACE

Parks & Recreation

The city of Van Buren and its
surrounding area is home to abundant
outdoor recreation sites, including a multi-
field baseball/softball complex, parks with
playground equipment, boat ramps, and
now a skate park.
Skate Park
A project first proposed by a group of
Leadership Crawford County participants is
now open adjacent to the Boys & Girls Club
facility on City Park Road.
American Ramp Company, contractors
for the project, noted that the new addition
to the city, opened last Spring, is one of the
nicest parks in Arkansas.
“This was a true community effort,” said
City of Van Buren Parks Director, Paul Dunn.
“We held parks meetings to determine the
elements we wanted to include in the plan.
People voted by placing dots on the pieces
they liked from the various designs we were
shown by the planning group.”
Theresa Bell, Misty Evans, Phillip Skateboarder making use of the new skate park in Van Buren. Photo courtesy Van Buren A&P
Faucette, Heather Hoffsommer, Kyle of the City Park, there are picnic tables, a
Pierce, and Zach Throneberry comprised playground and disc golf course nearby. It Parks
the Leadership Crawford County group Van Buren residents have access to a
that developed the idea for the park. “They adds to the family-friendly function of the vast system of parks and recreation areas.
were great to work with through the design park.” The Dr. Louis Peer Memorial Park includes
Since it opened, there have been many
and construction process,” Dunn explained. frequent users of the new skate park, playground equipment for children of
To make it useable at all times, the park all ages including slides, swings, jungle
is equipped with lighting. “If people want confirming it was a needed attraction for gyms and more. Picnics and parties are
to use it as a way to wind down at night, the community. “It’s another way to keep easy to be had and pavilions are available
people from having to go out of town
or get some early exercise, we wanted it to to engage in this type of activity,” Dunn for public use. A large disc golf course is
be available,” Dunn added. “Since it is part
concluded. Continued on page 26

24 Van Buren Chamber 2025 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org