The commission reviewed the latest data from Placer.ai, submitted by Assistant City Manager Daniel Shelman, which tracks visitor foot traffic at local events. Even though the Jonquil Festival at Historic Washington State Park is outside of Hope, the info is still relevant for the foot traffic and tourism that flow through Hope from visitors traveling to and from the festival. The reports showed that the 2026 Jonquil Festival (held in March) saw a significant increase in volume compared to 2025.
Total visits to the park during the festival window reached 12,800, up from 10,500 the previous year—a roughly 22% increase. Unique visitors also climbed to 12,100, compared to 9,800 in 2025. The commission noted that the higher volume of unique visitors indicates the festival's expanding reach.
The "Visitor Journey" data revealed that the majority of attendees traveled from Texarkana, Little Rock, and Shreveport. Interestingly, the data showed that after leaving the festival, a high percentage of visitors stopped at local Hope businesses, specifically Walmart and downtown restaurants, reinforcing the festival’s economic impact on the city.
The commission also spent time reviewing updated renders and pricing for the proposed Kopecky Veterans Memorial. Summer Chambers presented the committee with a quote from city engineers that came in higher than the original budget. The commission discussed cutting costs by reducing the size of the footprint of the memorial and the flagpoles, but instead of drastically cutting the design, the commission decided to pause the project to seek corporate donations and community support.
Robin Rogers, publisher of Four States Living Magazine, presented the commission with the new Arkansas Great Southwest regional brochure. Hope has historically secured an 8-page center spread in the publication to highlight the Depot, the Watermelon Festival, and the Klipsch Museum. The commission approved a $6,000 commitment (with Arkansas Great Southwest paying for half of that $6K) for the spread. During the discussion, commissioners suggested that Hope's marketing might also mention its proximity to the Diamond Mines in Murfreesboro.
"We are basically the closest place to stay for people going to the mines,"Commissioner Luker noted. "We get lots of people in our hotels that stay here and then go dig. We are missing the boat if we don't mention it."
In other business, the commission approved up to $4,000 for materials to support an Eagle Scout project at Huckabee Lake. The project will involve pouring a 40x40 concrete floor for the existing pavilion near the Scout Hut. While the commission provides the funding for materials, the labor will be provided by the scouts.
Other updates of the meeting included:
- Rec Center Groundbreaking: The official groundbreaking for the new Hope Recreation Center is scheduled for April 27th at 10:00 AM.
- Coliseum Infrastructure: The new HVAC unit for the Coliseum has been ordered. The commission noted the urgency of the repair after the unit failed during a recent Quinceañera.
- Tax Exemptions: Due to new state legislation (Act 714), food services located within public schools and colleges, such as the cafe at UAHT, are now exempt from the local A&P (Advertising and Promotion) tax.
- Gravesite Signage: A new waist-high informational sign has been installed at the Clinton gravesite at Rose Hill, replacing a ground-level sign that was frequently obscured by grass.
The meeting adjourned with a reminder that Train Day is set for May 2nd, with over 30 vendors already registered to participate.