GENTRY — City council approved, by resolution on Sept. 12, resubmitting an application for a Wildlife Recreation Facilities Grant for the conversion of city-owned property along Flint Creek near Arkansas Highway 59 into a nature area with fishing ponds.
A previous application for grant funding of just under $100,000 was not awarded the city because of a shortage of available funding for the grants. The city was encouraged to re-apply in the new grant cycle, using the same plans.
If received, the money would be used to prepare the ponds for fishing andto build necessary access trails and parking for people to use the area.
The council voted unanimously to re-apply for the grant. If received, no matching funds would be required of the city.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has viewed the area and made a number of suggestions, including an offer to stock the ponds for special fishing events. The shallowness of the ponds was a concern for the introduction of permanent fish species. Dredging the ponds to make them deeper has also been discussed and could be an option if grant money is awarded for the proposed project.
News, Pages 2 on 09/21/2011