Page 10 - Explore Faulkner County 2020

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • EXPLORE FAULKNER COUNTY
MEET
YOUR NEIGHBOR
Timothy Tyler
CITY OF GREENBRIER FIRE CHIEF
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE NEW FIRE STATION IN GREENBRIER? More room! We finally have
a training room to train in. We also have showers and living quarters, and a real kitchen — so many things we have never had before, and now we do.
HOW WILL THE NEW FIRE STATION BENEFIT THE GREENBRIER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY? The new fire station will enable us to provide better response to the citizens by allowing us to become a full-time staffed department in the future.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FIREFIGHTER? Make good grades and finish school. Apply to a fire department, either as a volunteer or as a paid firefighter. Apply yourself, gain knowledge of firefighting and as a medical first responder. Be humble and want to learn.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A FIREFIGHTER? Helping people and seeing how much it means to them.
HOW HAVE YOU NOTICED GREENBRIER GROWING IN RECENT YEARS? I’ve lived in Greenbrier my entire life. There is an explosion of people. We are a great community and city. People know it, too. That is why they want to live here. The Fire Department has to grow with our community.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO FOR FUN IN FAULKNER COUNTY? We have some of the best canoeing in the state on the North Cadron; great fishing at Beaverfork Lake and Lake Conway, also
the Arkansas River; and the best state park in Arkansas — Woolly Hollow State Park. It has great fishing, also.
SPLISH SPLASH Matthews Park in Greenbrier is a cool, new place to play
BY SAM PIERCE / CREATIVE SERVICES WRITER
Matthews Park in Greenbrier, which includes the city’s first splash pad, opened at 9 a.m. July 28, and by 8:30 a.m., visitors were lined up.
“We have got all kinds of people coming by, including those from out of town who want to have a destination,” said Kim Tyler, who serves on the Greenbrier Natural Resources Advisory Board. “ e skate park has brought people from all over. ey will text me or go to our Facebook page.
“I think we had some from Newport and Russellville who were wanting to go somewhere.”
Tyler said the recent weather has also been beneficial to the park’s opening.
“We want to do anything we can to help people with their quality of life, anything that gets them active,” Tyler said.
In 2018, Greenbrier voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund the Greenbrier Fire and Rescue Station and build Matthews Park. e park is named after former Greenbrier Mayor Percy Matthews. Tyler said a lot of work went into the park before the initial groundbreaking in 2019.
She said there were several community meetings from a lot of groups, including senior adults, Hispanic groups and stu- dents. She said that between surveys and brainstorming sessions, a lot of informa- tion was gathered to figure out what would best fit for Phase I.
“Hearing all the giggling, smiles and little patter of feet is worth every drop of sweat that has been put into this park,” Tyler said.
Greenbrier Mayor Sammy Hartwick said the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has taken over the pond at the park and will stock it with fish in September. He said the pond will feature accessible piers for anglers with mobility issues.
“Itisgoingtobeabighitwhenwegetit stocked,” Hartwick said.
Tyler said one of the most important aspects of the park has been its inclusivity. She said the park provides a place to play for all learners and participants.
“We want everyone to feel included,” she said.
SARAH DECLERK/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Kids play in the new splash pad at Matthews Park in Greenbrier, which opened in July. Greenbrier Mayor Sammy Hartwick said the park has given people from the Greenbrier community and surrounding communities a chance to bring the kids out and have a little fun.
Tyler said a lot of work has gone into the park, making sure all of the bases are covered, including fundraising. She has been part of an ongoing process, including gathering as much information as possible from stakeholders.
The next phase for the park includes an amphitheater, additional pavilions, sand volleyball and a basketball court.
“Everybody wants to bring their little mutt out there, but we don’t allow them in the splash-pad area,” Tyler said. “There will be more walking trails and places for interpretative learning.
“We are building a gravel parking lot so those neighborhood people can park there and come to the park.”
She said they are also considering a BMX park, as bikes currently aren’t allowed near the splash-pad. Bikes are not allowed in the skate park — it is for skateboards, manual scooter boards and skates only. Bikes can be used on the trails.
“There is a lot of growth going on in Greenbrier,” Tyler said. “People are
coming here because of the quality of life, and a place like this is advantageous to that.
“There are a lot of things going into consideration for the park, and once people see it, they will jump on board.”
She said the plan is to eventually build a way for students at the middle school and junior high campuses to access the other side of the highway.
“We want them to be able to cross over [U.S.] Highway 65, but we want to make it easier because there is a huge amount of traffic on it,” Tyler said. “That age group needs a place to come to that is safe.
“It is all about community spirit.”
Tyler said the park is 55 acres, including a lot of green space. She said she grew up on the land, leasing the land to raise cattle and hay.
“I remember it being here as a kid, so I have been familiar with this plot of land, and it is right in the middle of the city limits,” Tyler said. “So you’ve got to hang on to what you have.”
SARAH DECLERK/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION