Recreation & Tourism mid-1800s. The family raised cotton in the valley and seven children in the cabin. The 400-acre park has a swimming area with a lifeguard on duty during the summer; 30 campsites, some for tents and some for RVs; three hiking trails; a shady picnic area with a pavilion; and fishing and boating. Fishing and paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes are available for rent.
City Parks and Recreational Facilities Conway has 13 city parks, most with picnic areas and pavilions, playgrounds, and open space. Others have tennis and basketball courts, walking/ jogging tracks, and other recreational amenities. Beaverfork Lake, which covers 900 acres, is the focal point of the City of Conway’s 1,200-acre Beaverfork Lake Park, located off Highway 25 in north Conway. The lake is a popular place for boating, fishing, jetskiing, and other water sports. The picnic area features tables and grills, as well as two pavilions for group gatherings. A swimming beach, two sand volley ball courts, and a handicapped-accessible fishing dock see a lot of use, especially during the summer. A small marina provides a few rental spaces for party barges. The park also has a concession stand, restrooms, a lighted softball field, and plenty of parking. The only usage charge is for boat launching. Airport Park, six acres on Sixth Street across from Conway Municipal Airport in east Conway, consists of a softball field, a playground, a basketball goal, and a small picnic area. Bainbridge Park is located at the end of Kensington Street in west Conway just off the Tucker Creek Bike/Walking Trail, which can be accessed from the park. The six-acre park has a pavilion, three basketball goals, a small playground, and ample parking. Centennial Soccer Park, located off Dave Ward Drive in Southwest Conway, features 12 full-sized soccer fields, restrooms, concessions, and ample parking. The Arkansas Youth Soccer Association state soccer tournament was held there recently, bringing many visitors to Conway. City of Colleges Park, located on Siebenmorgen road in east Conway, is a state-of-the-art, five-field, girls fast-pitch softball complex, completed in 2009. “It is probably as nice a park as anything in the mid-South,” said Brian Knopp, Conway Parks and Recreation director. Curtis Walker Park is located off Siebenmorgen Road in east Conway adjacent to Conway Human Development Center.The 15-acre park consists
of a lighted baseball field, two basketball courts, a playground, and a lighted youth football field with a concession stand and restrooms. Don Owen Complex sits on 125 acres on Lower Ridge Road off Highway 65 North in east Conway. The park has six T-ball fields, three lighted adult softball fields with restrooms and concessions, a small playground, and a pavilion. The park has ample parking and recreational opportunities to suit all ages. Near the park entrance is the Conway Sports Center, which houses three basketball courts, a one-eighth-mile three-lane walking track, four racquetball courts, and a meeting room that holds up to 100 people. A small fee is charged for the racquetball courts, but everything else is free. The complex also houses Faulkner County Rodeo Arena, which consists of two barns, a large arena, corral areas, announcer stands, restrooms, and a concession area. Each year, the rodeo arena hosts a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo, which attracts contestants from across the United States. Fifth Avenue Park sits on 10 acres between Fifth and Seventh avenues and Vine Street in east Conway. The park has two pavilions, a lighted adult softball field, two fenced and lighted tennis courts, two basketball goals, a volleyball net, a playground, and restrooms. Gatling Park, located on Tyler Street in central Conway. The 13-acre park has a lighted basketball court, two fenced and lighted tennis courts, a playground, and lots of green space.
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