The Conway City Council appropriated $832,392 to the Parks and Recreation Department for the Pompe Park phase two project, which will add two pedestrian bridges over Tucker Creek and make improvements to the park’s walking trails.

Andrew Thames, parks director, presented the project to the city council March 14, which council members unanimously approved funding. 

“Phase two will begin immediately after approval from council,” Thames said. “It includes two new pedestrian bridges, with abutments, that will connect the east and west side of Tucker Creek to Pompe phase one, which is ongoing.”

The new bridges over Tucker Creek will be similar to the existing pedestrian bridge in the northern part of Pompe Park and will integrate existing walking trails. 

“The two bridges will be about 14 feet wide,” Thames said. “The bridges have been ordered and should arrive in six months.”

A pedestrian underpass beneath Prince Street will also be built, connecting the park to the other side of the street. The underpass will be part of the Tucker Creek walking trail, a 3.3-mile walking trail along Tucker Creek that cuts through Pompe Park. Sidewalks will connect the new trails to Prince Street.

Pompe Park will add two parking lots to accommodate visitors. Pompe Park phase two includes improvements to other parts of the park. 

“Site drainage has been improved and bank stabilization along the creek in this area will be included,” Thames said. 

Drainage improvements help prevent flooding in the park, while bank stability improvements help prevent erosion of the bank of the creek.

Conway opened Pompe Park at 2560 Prince St. in 2021. Pompe Park is home to one of the only mountain bike flow trails in Arkansas and the only one in central Arkansas. Flow trails are designed to simulate the conditions of mountain biking for riders of all levels of experience, according to conwayarkansas.org

Parts of the trail — which were built last year — are currently closed due to construction. 

Last year, the city council approved the first phase, which included the construction of a veterans’ memorial plaza, a pavilion and an amphitheater in the park.

Construction of phase one began last August.

According to a Facebook post by the city of Conway, the veteran’s memorial will be a plaza “surrounded by seating and walking paths,” with “a monument featuring flags recognizing each military branch and [prisoners in war/missing in action.]”

“Phase one is subject to be completed depending on weather,” Thames said. “As we all know, in March and April, that’s a little bit tough, but hopefully the first of May, Pompe phase one will be done.” 

Both phases of the project, with the exception of the new bridges, should be completed within the coming months.