The Benton Parks Committee will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, to hold a discussion regarding athletic field turf, potentially signaling future upgrades to the city’s sports complexes. The session will begin at 5 p.m. at City Council Chambers, at 410 River Street. Read the agenda, along with the previous meeting’s minutes below.
AGENDA – AUG 11, 2026
Committee Members: Chair – Judd Hart; Vice-Chair – Steve Lee; Staff Liaison – Stephanie Jones, Director of Parks & Recreation
Call to Order, Recognition of Attendees, Statement of FOIA Compliance, Approval of Minutes
Turf Discussion, Other Discussion, Adjourn
MINUTES – APR 14, 2026
Council Member Judd Hart called the meeting to order, recognized the attendees, and established a quorum.
Attendees were: Judd Hart, Chair Frank Baptist Steve Brown; Evelyn Reed Ann Spencer-Cole Jeff Hamm; Tom Farmer, Mayor Trevor Villines; Junior Rodemeyer, Staff Liaison Jeff Morrow
Council Member Judd Hart read the statement of compliance.
Council Member Trevor Villines made a motion to approve the minutes from March 9th, 2026. Second by Council Member Ann Spencer-Cole. A vote was taken. All those present were in favor and the motion carried.
Tournaments – Lowering Field Usage Rates
Council Member Judd Hart stated that there is a pricing sheet in the packet for review. Assistant Parks Director Junior Rodemeyer stated that Mayor Farmer has challenged the Department to fill up the baseball and softball fields with tournaments every weekend.
Assistant Parks Director Rodemeyer stated that staff reached out to tournament directors to receive feedback on what would make us more attractive to them. One of the key items was our pricing structure. We reviewed our pricing compared to the central Arkansas triangle: Hot Springs, Little Rock, Bryant, Maumelle, Sherwood, Conway, Cabot and Searcy. Once the information was compiled, we made some adjustments so we would be a more attractive option for tournaments.
The three changes we are proposing to our rental rates are: reduce per field rate from $150 to $125 per day, reduce hourly field rate from $35 to $30 per day, and remove the $17 per hour fee for staff to be on site during tournaments. This came to cost-savings of approximately $500 to $750 per day. Our goal is to not generate revenue from the rental of the fields but to get money brought into the City of Benton.
Council Member Jeff Morrow asked how competitive these changes will make us. Mayor Tom Farmer stated that these changes will make us lower than others in this area.
Mayor Tom Farmer also stated that some of the other areas have turf fields, but we still have dirt fields so this may entice directors to use our facilities.
Assistant Parks Director Rodemeyer stated that a few years ago we built an incentive package for tournament directors. This is based on the number of teams they bring in; they can receive an additional discount on the rental.
Council Member Frank Baptist made a motion to approve the proposed field usage rates. Second by Council Member Trevor Villines. A vote was taken. All those present were in favor and the motion carried.
Mayor Tom Farmer reported to Council Members that they will notice an emergency clause in the ordinance for the purpose of allowing us to lower the rates immediately. In the next seven weeks, we have three tournaments so hopefully this will entice more tournament directors.
Member vs. Non-member Price Changes
Assistant Parks Director Junior Rodemeyer stated that Mayor Tom Farmer has challenged the Department to find ways to reward or incentivize River Center members, or new members.
We have worked with Mayor Tom Farmer on a member v. non-member program pricing structure which is included in the packet. If we are able to approve the proposed member v. non-member program pricing, it will not go into effect until August 1st, which will give us time to advertise the changes as well as update our software system.
Assistant Parks Director Rodemeyer reminded the Committee that we brought a program pricing sheet to the Committee in December 2025, but the Department’s goal is to not bring any price changes for the 2027 year, only bring to the Committee what is needed for the 2028 calendar year.
Council Member Judd Hart asked if this is common pricing in Central Arkansas, to have member and non-member fees. Assistant Parks Director Rodemeyer stated that there are multiple other recreation departments in the state that have a member and non-member pricing structure.
Council Member Jeff Hamm made a motion to approve the proposed program price sheet. Second by Council Member Ann Spencer-Cole. A vote was taken. All those present were in favor and the motion carried.
With no further business, Council Member Judd Hart adjourned.
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