JONESBOROUGH — A steering committee pledged to help plan the construction of an indoor arena, wrapping up a series of public meetings Tuesday as stakeholders from multiple sports programs highlighted what they want to see in the development.
Committee chair Kevin Hodges said many of the advice came from parents who took their children to venues across the region, particularly those involved in water sports.
“They’re very keen to really want to have a place where they can have some nice meetings, regional meetings,” Hodges said Tuesday after his third meeting in three days. “There are some people in the group who want to see the national game, so we have to strike a balance somewhere that accommodates the majority.
In some cases, Hodges said, advocates will point to things they don’t want to see in Jonesboro, pointing to examples from other facilities in the area.
Parents also expressed a desire to have some space dedicated to leisure activities for younger children away from the complex’s competing areas, he said.
The Jonesboro Advertising and Promotions Commission will own the facility on Race Street, which is expected to include an aquatics center, multiple basketball, volleyball, pickleball or badminton courts, or exhibition and event space. The complex will also include concession space, kitchens and indoor artificial turf for football and other events.
Construction of the 36-acre stadium was funded by a 2 percent tax on prepared foods that went into effect on Jan. 2, 2022.
Starting with the second series of sessions on June 26-27, details of some features will be narrowed down.
For example, what type of surface should the playing field be?
“Now that basketball and volleyball seem to work well, there’s going to be some debate about how maple flooring differs from other types of (artificial) flooring,” explains Hodges. “So it’s going to be a difficult decision and probably needs to be dealt with by committee.”
Some facilities have opted for a combination of floor surfaces to keep costs down, said John Wack, chief executive of Eastern Sports Management, the consultancy that conducted the feasibility study for the project.
Representatives from Crafton Tull Engineering and Construction and Nabholz Corporation, the company selected to manage construction, will be present and participating, Hodges said.
Engineers say the artificial turf field could provide space for two side-by-side soccer fields and the option of other sports as an alternative to indoor practice on rainy days.
“This facility could really be a flexible community facility with a lot of amenities,” Hodges said, adding that flexibility seemed to be an aspiration of those attending this week’s meeting.
