OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND RECREATION

THE FUNCTIONS OF OPEN SPACE

Open space serves many functions which are recognized in the plans of the cities considered beautiful and livable.

Open space gives form to a city. Barling is partially framed by natural spaces and is landlocked by the Arkansas River. These spaces provide stirring, refreshing contrasts between natural features and man made activities and environment. Barling has the best of both worlds. It has a lot of beautiful, open land around it, but also has the advantages of the city life both within its city boundaries and its proximity to Fort Smith. The attractiveness of open space is reflected in property values; both in the vicinity of open space or parks and property with open space views.

Open space preservation additionally provides space for natural habitats and processes. Around 1,818 acres of land at the Fort Chaffee site are considered water, wetlands, and/or floodplains which create a great environment for both plants and animals. Contact with these natural worlds demonstrate the interdependencies of life, lead to the discovery of new values of native organisms, and increase awareness of environmental poisons which affect humans also. Such open space also protects watersheds and airsheds.

Another important function of open space uses of land is to prevent development of hazardous areas. Human safety, public investments such as roads and utilities, and public liability are all factors which indicate open space in hazardous areas. Flood plains are common environmental hazard areas.

Finally, open space makes possible recreational opportunities. Recreation is thought of conventionally as active sports and exercise implying playing fields and apparatus, hiking and riding trails, boating and swimming opportunities. Natural environmental experience provided in hill, creek and river areas and relaxed social interchange provided in park and plaza areas are also part of recreation. The refreshment of mind and body through recreation is an important function of a civilized city. Parks within walking distance and open space quickly accessible by car are vital to the quality of urban places.

OPEN SPACE/ PARKS IN BARLING

The area within the Fort Chaffee site has great potential for supplying the city with a lot of open space for parks and recreation. The total amount of land designated as parks and open space in the Fort Chaffee Preferred Land Use Plan is 1,551 acres. Besides the area designated as water, wetlands, or floodplains (1,818 acres), the area that has been designated as open space/parks constitutes the largest amount of acreage at the site.

Water bodies, primarily streams and ponds, at Fort Chaffee are located in several areas of the site. Significant ponds include Wells Lake in the central portion of the site and Brown's Lake in the northern portion. Major streams include Massard Creek on the western edge of the site and the Little Vache Grasse Creek on the east side. The Arkansas River is located on the northern portion and separates a parcel of approximately 410 acres from the balance of the site identified as surplus property.

The establishment of a nature center near Brown's Lake (256 acres) in the northern portion of Fort Chaffee is included in the reuse plan. The nature center would include 77 acres of upland and approximately 179 acres of land classified as water, wetlands and floodplains. Adjacent land areas designated as possible wetlands mitigation sites as well as the existing Spring Hill Park could also be integrated in the operations of the proposed nature center.

The Wells Lake area as mentioned is located in the central portion of the site. It consists of 72 acres including a 5 acre lake. A community park has been proposed for the area.

A significant portion of the land classified as flood plain can be used for various active and passive recreation activities as well as for conservation purposes. This land could also be developed for more intensive types of uses if specific flood proofing standards are met and necessary governmental permits are obtained. Similarly, lands designated as wetlands could be used for specific recreation and conservation purposes. Also, depending on compliance with existing federal, state and/or local regulations, more intensive types of activities might be appropriate in areas designated as wetlands.

Lands designated as parks and open space are connected throughout Fort Chaffee with the areas classified as water, wetlands, and floodplains. A series of trails or greenways could be located within these areas that would permit access to many parts of the site by foot, horse or bicycle. A portion of the site, adjacent to State Highway 255, is also designated as an equestrian center/base camp that could serve as a central location for residents in the region who wish to obtain access to such a trail system.

Even the land uses west of Fort Chaffee are primarily open space including the Ben Geren Regional Park and the Fort Smith Sanitary Landfill. A small area to the south is also open space that includes widely spaced residential dwelling units.

Land has been designated at the Fort Chaffee site for the expansion of Ben Geren Regional Park (372 acres) and the creation of a community park near Wells Lake (72 acres).

WAYS TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE

Large areas of open space become an increasingly precious amenity as an urban area develops. Most of the speculative value of urban land is socially created by concentration of people, proximity to other uses, and presence of public facilities. The right of the public to restrict land use as long as an owner can make some reasonable use of the land is recognized. Additionally the city can acquire land, easements, or development rights in order to maintain open space. The unique scenic and historical heritage of Arkansas must be transmitted to future generations.

Dedication of desirable open space areas which have limited development potential has also been used to increase public open space. In areas where public access is not desirable, scenic and conservation easements should be secured as a condition of a subdivision approval where such easements are "necessary or convenient to insure conformity to or implementation of the General Plan." The public interest in open space easements includes but is not limited to: protection of wooded hillsides and creek and river banks; reservation of flood plain areas and wetland habitats; and preclusion of development in areas of unstable soil.

Open space may also be acquired or improved through environmental trades. If any project negatively effects the environment, then reasonable mitigation must be made to offset the adverse consequences with environmental improvements. Land dedications and/or improvements needed for environmental protection are encouraged as mitigation measures for the environmental impacts of desirable public and private projects.

The provisions of the City's zoning ordinance are crucial to the establishment of adequate open space, from the scale of the individual project up to the regional scale. On the scale of individual projects, the application of open space requirements and site plan review principles could be reviewed to ensure that attractive, useable configurations of open space result and that the total amount of space is sufficient. Open space benefits are affected by paved areas, and should be a major concern in zoning.

On a regional scale, flood plain and agricultural zoning can be used to conserve open space. Open space zoning, with special provisions for wetlands could also be considered in order to retain very low intensity land uses in areas to be conserved.

Future open space may also be maintained with incentives to cluster development. Expensive extension of utilities and streets to properties of limited development potential might be averted by the sale of development rights to property owners closer to existing facilities. Transfer of development rights may be considered where it conserves desirable open space. Grouping of structures (as opposed to standardized lots and setbacks) is encouraged where permanent usable open space results.

The design of public roadways can also increase the sense of open space and access to recreation opportunities. The proposed Interstate 49 besides connecting Kansas to Shreveport, Louisiana, could provide public access to recreational facilities within Fort Chaffee. Landscaped with street trees, any street becomes part of the public's open space system, encouraging active walking and riding and passive appreciation of natural beauty.

Policy: Open space will be retained where it is important to establish the natural setting of the City, to preserve natural ecology, to preserve cultural heritage, to avoid environmental hazards, to avoid development costly to the public, or to attain adequate space for recreation.