Gym & Recreation

Benton boasts a quality of life that has attributed to its continued growth. The sports and recreational opportunities that the schools and city provide bring the community together, offering an enjoyable living experience. The city is working on elevating this quality of life even more with the construction of Riverside Park.

The park is expected to be a nice complement to the already-established Benton Event Center and the forthcoming retail center – The Shoppes of Benton. The hope is that this new park also will put Benton on a level playing field with other prime destinations in the state, such as Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas, Benton Mayor David Mattingly said.

Benton is considered in the top three in the state as far as economic development and growth is concerned, Mattingly said. “Riverside Park will allow us to compete with other attractive spots in the state. It is a much overdue amenity for the city of Benton.”

John Eckart, director of parks and recreation since 2012, added, “First and foremost, this park will fill several recreation voids for the city with the construction of the first public pool in over four decades, the first soccer complex for this community and the first community center.”

With swimming pools, sports complexes and more, the park will benefit not only Benton residents, but also people from everywhere, Mattingly said. The park is being built next to the Saline County Fairgrounds at the site of the old Saline County Airport – a “great use for the old airport property,” he said. The project is being funded by a half–cent sales tax voters approved in 2014 for what Mattingly called “quality of life.” Nearby Bernard Holland Park will remain intact and in use, he noted.

Eckart said this is a “very exciting” project for Benton. “We look forward to the health and wellness opportunities that we can bring to our community,” he said. “Riverside Park will greatly enhance the quality of life for those who call Benton home and for those looking for a place to call home.”

Mattingly noted the park especially will benefit children and older adults of the community. “We have never had these type of amenities before,” he said. Highlights of the park include soccer and softball complexes, a Boys & Girls Club facility, an aquatic park and the anchor of the park – the 87,000 square-foot River Center. The multi-functional facility, with Black, Corley, Owens & Hughes as architects, will have seating capacity for 5,200 people. Something unique and something that might not immediately come to mind when thinking about a community park is amenities for umpires. Riverside Park will include separate changing rooms for umpires, Mattingly noted.

Currently, the Boys & Girls Club of Saline County serves 400-450 children every day, Mattingly said. The new center will help the organization serve around 700 children. The park complex also will include the new senior activity center. The current one on Jefferson Street was built in the 1970s. Noting all of the different aspects of the new park, Mattingly pointed out how it will be a place for everyone in the family to come and enjoy recreational fun. “Families can have both their sons and daughters playing sports in one location, and there will be a spot to take younger kids to play, and moms and dads can enjoy the gym or walking trails, and the grandparents can enjoy the senior center,” he said.

Eckart noted that part of his department’s job is to provide adequate options for health and wellness activities in the city. Riverside Park will help his department do its job by being a viable venue for such activities. “Furthermore, as a department, we will be able to provide additional athletic leagues, community programs and fitness classes,” he said.

The park is set to open next April. Ideally, River Center will host events throughout the year in the spring, summer, fall and during the holidays, Mattingly said. “The park and River Center will be a place like Benton has never seen for all to come together to enjoy recreation and meaningful events.”