FAYETTEVILLE — Want to go for a run on an indoor track?

How about a dip in the pool?

Horseshoes, anyone?

One, two, or possibly all three of the above activities might be possible at the recreation center that the city of Bentonville is planning to build at the corner of Arkansas 12 and Arkansas 112.

It’s an exciting development for Bentonville.

Sure, Wal-Mart employees have access to the company’s recreation center, but unless you work for Wal-Mart, you don’t have many recreational options in the city.

We suspect the city’srecreation center would get a lot of use. Consider the Adult Wellness Center in Rogers: Available only

people 50 and older, the Wellness Center has signed up nearly 12,000 members since it opened three years ago. The Rogers Activity Center, which

open to families, serves roughly 12,000 adults and children.

Clearly there’s a demand for recreational opportunities in this area. According to a survey that the city conducted of 374 residents, when asked how often they would use the facility if it had all of the features they most desire, only 6 percent said they would never use it. Ken Ballard, a representative of consulting firm that is working with the city on this project, said that is an astonishingly low figure compared to responses in other communities.

At a public meeting on Tuesday night, residents heard about some of the amenities that could be included at the recreation center and were invited

provide input on which ones they would most like to see. Some of the options included an aquatic center, a gymnasium, a space for aerobics and fitness classes, a rock-climbing wall, and a library and reading center.

There are also options to consider for the outdoors area surrounding the center - things such as nature trails, picnic areas and football and baseball fields.

Of course, not every item on the wish list can be bought. The city has to work within a budget of about $7.5 million.

It makes sense, then, that the city is investing time and money into soliciting the public’s ideas, rather than guessing at what would be most popular.

When we think about the factors that determine a town’s quality of life, education is usually at or near the top. Parks and recreational opportunities are high on the list, too.

Bentonville already has a top-notch public school system. Now we see good things happening from the recreational perspective. Orchards Park, set to open next year near Memorial Park, will be a kind

botanical garden with lots of walking trails. When the recreation center opens - probably in early 2012 - residents will have yet another wonderful place to exercise, to meet people and to have fun.

Bentonville’s quality of life seems to be on the rise.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/05/2009

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