Whitewater park near Siloam Springs opens this weekend

by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

The city of Siloam Springs and Oklahoma-based utility Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) have announced the anticipated opening of WOKA Whitewater Park this weekend.

Operating hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 15) and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Park officials said a formal grand opening at the park is planned for next spring.

According to a news release, free parking and limited concessions will be available this weekend, with equipment available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Whitewater-specific personal equipment is also welcome.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/09/whitewater-park-near-siloam-springs-opens-this-weekend/

WOKA Whitewater Park

‘Almost’ 10,000 visit U.S. Marshals Museum in its first month

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

Visitors came by the thousands to see the U.S. Marshals Museum on the riverfront in Fort Smith during its inaugural month. Hannah Green, marketing coordinator, said the museum saw about 10,000 visitors in the month of July.

The museum opened July 1 after 16 years of fundraising, construction and speculation. In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. The Robbie Westphal family, led by Bennie Westphal and Robin Westphal Clegg, donated the riverfront land for the museum. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September 2015. Museum officials initially hoped to have the facility open by late 2017, but struggles to raise money delayed the opening. Construction of the approximately 53,000-square-foot U.S. Marshals Museum was completed — except for exhibits — in early 2020.

According to a 2018 study, the museum could see around 125,000 visitors a year. The Arkansas Economic Development Institute, using information from the study, estimated the museum and related tourist expenditures would have a total annual impact on Sebastian County of $13 million to $22 million. With 10,000 visitors in its first month, the estimates are not too far off the 2018 study.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/almost-10000-visit-u-s-marshals-museum-in-its-first-month/