City council approves concept for conservation education center

The El Dorado City Council has signed off on conceptual plans for a project to build an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission conservation education center at South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field.

On April 18, council members unanimously approved the concept for the “South Arkansas Conservation Education Center.”

With the council’s OK, the El Dorado Airport Commission may now move forward with seeking property appraisals, a timber cruise and land survey for the roughly 28 acres on which the facility would be built.

The conservation education center will include a fishing pier; static and 3-D archery ranges; a BB gun shooting station; a nature trail with interactive panels; and more amenities.

Inside the center, visitors would have access to display areas, including an aquarium display, an activity area; a classroom; office space; hunter/ boater safety testing areas; a gift shop, where hunting and fishing licenses would be sold; and restrooms.

The facility would be the fifth AGFC conservation center in the state.

AGFC conservation education centers and nature centers offer hands-on experience and education about the natural elements and ecosystem that are specific to local areas.

Discussions about the local project began in 2016 when former AGFC chairman Emon Mahony, of El Dorado, got the ball rolling on the idea to establish a wildlife education center for South Arkansas.

The El Dorado Airport Commission supported the idea then and agreed to work with the AGFC, Arkansas Department Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration to develop the project.

On April 18, Mickey Murfee, chairman of the airport commission, told council members that their involvement was also critical to bringing the project to fruition.

He said SARA sits on 1,300 acres that is divided for aviation and non-aviation use.

The conservation education center would take up about 27.8 acres on a piece of non-aviation property that was formerly used as the parking for the old Babe Ruth Baseball League field, just north of the SARA entrance off U.S. 82.

The grounds would extend westward into a wooded area.

Murfee said a pond in the area has been drained and will be rehabilitated and rebuilt in a fashion that would discourage the gathering of wading birds, such as the great blue heron, that could interfere with aircraft that come in and out of the airport.

As part of its pitch, the AGFC, which uses airplanes to monitor game movement and population, has incorporated aviation elements into the project, Murfee said.

Murfee said estimated costs are between $700,000 and $800,000, which would be covered by a 1/8-cent conservation sales tax that was passed by Arkansas voters in 1996 to assist the AGFC with its mission of managing fish and wildlife resources.

The AGFC would operate and maintain the property.

Eric Maynard, assistant chief of education for the AGFC, said the facility would be staffed with two part-time employees, noting that the education center and its activities would be free to the public.

Maynard said conservation education and nature centers draw thousands of visitors each year around the state, noting that some of the more remote facilities average about 2,000 visitors per month.

“And as far as I know, the game and fish commission has also approved the concept but not the funding until the airport commission receives approval from the FAA,” Murfee said.

He said the FAA requires that the airport commission to be compensated for the loss of land due to the project and any future revenue the land would generate.

After exploring several options, Murfee explained that the airport commission agreed to transfer the deed to the land to the city, who would in turn, lease the property to the AGFC for a nominal fee.

Prior to the transfer, the property would be selectively cut of timber and the revenue would go into the airport budget.

“From these transactions, the airport will receive funds from the timber sales and the credit for the land,” Murfee explained. “This transaction will also decrease the overall value of the land, which will benefit the city when it transfers those funds to the airport.”

The transfer of assets from the city to the airport account would equal 25 to 30 years worth of revenue from timber sales, he continued.

Murfee told council members it should take four to six weeks to collect information about the size, appraisal value, timber cruise and survey of the property.

“(We will) submit the data to you … and upon your final approval, the proposal will be submitted to the FAA for their final approval,” he said, adding that the information will also be forwarded to the state department of aeronautics.

The applicable acreage will then be carved out of the airport property and deeded to the city.

Murfee reiterated, “The city will still own the land and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will maintain it.”

Council Member Paul Choate inquired about an anticipated completion date for the project.

Murfee said that once final plans have been approved by all participating parties, the project could take two to three years to complete.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

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