GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette Lions Club held a work day Saturday, April 21, and began construction on the city's new human foosball court at Pop Allum Park. Plans were to begin the project in early March; but several weekends of cold, rainy weather interfered, then the paving of the front parking lot at the park blocked access to the court's site for a few weeks.
Lions Club members expressed appreciation for the completion of the parking lot and were thankful that the warmer weather allowed their project to begin. More than a year of planning and preparation has gone into the court, planned to give area youth and sports enthusiasts a new form of recreation.
Danny White, of Cardinal Corner Pawn in Gravette, first proposed the project, and club members prepared a proposal and presented it to the city council. Council members approved the project in August 2017, and a site was selected just south of the skate park in Pop Allum Park.
White helped finance the project, along with a Lions of Arkansas Foundation grant of $800 which was applied for and approved in late September. The LOAF grant was awarded on the basis of a certain timeline, but local Lions have applied for an extension and have been assured it will be granted because of the weeks of unsuitable weather.
A good start was made on the project Saturday. Jerry Hallum, of Colcord, Okla., was recruited to bring his tractor and power auger to help with digging the post holes. Lions Bill Mattler, Jeff Davis, Al Blair, Cela Gaytan and Sue Rice were all on hand to assist with the work. Most of the post holes were dug and several posts were set before rain moved in on Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas Lions will be attending their state convention in Conway this weekend but will return to the project the first weekend in May. Any volunteers who are willing and able to help will be welcome at the next work day, Saturday, May 5, at 9 a.m.
Community on 04/25/2018