Fairytale Park

It was a gorgeous day in the town of Fayetteville, AR. With not a lot of homework due too fast, I took a mental break day. My boyfriend and I packed a picnic of chicken sandwiches, cooked in my company's Bayou Bourbon Glaze (If you are curious visit: tastefullysimple.com/web/jadamire). We had never visited Wilson Park before, but we had seen it once driving near campus. The park was alive with visitors. On a walk through the large trail that circles the entire park, we came across one of the children's play areas. It was the most whimsical castle that looked like it was not really for kids. I found myself jealous of these children, because the play area was not large enough for adults.

Please, fayetteville, expand on this castle and make it larger than life. It would be the coolest place to go if it were expansive and allowed adults to become kids again. But I give the sculptor and revision sculptor props on a job well done. I LOVE THIS LITTLE CASTLE. I want one and I am going to take some fun pictures on it someday soon when there are no kids on it.I came home and did some research on the park play area that was unlike any play area I had ever seen.

So, here is what I found on accessfayetteville.org about our little castle.
Location: 675 Park Ave

Wilson Park "Castle" History

An active spring emerges from behind the iron door with the Dogwood flower on it. Prior to 1979 , there was an unsightly concrete spring house located over the spring. The presence of this spring house is why this site was chosen for the "Castle". During the early 1900's, this spring fed into what was known as Trent Pond, the local swimming hole which was located exactly where the ball field is now. In the early 1930's the current swimming pool was constructed, eliminating the need for the old swimming hole.

During the 1960's and '70's Wilson Park became increasingly popular, the spring house area was considered unsafe and unattractive. As a result, all agreed that this area had the potential for a creative, interactive park feature to be designed and constructed. In the late 1970's a contest was held to present ideas to citizens, Park's staff and Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB).

Artist and Sculptor Frank Williams won the contest with a scale model of what would eventually be known as "The Castle". Originally, Frank named it "Seven Points". The castle features seven cement "points" and a rock in the foot bridge with the number "7" in it. Soon after completion in 1981 it was nicknamed "The Castle".

The Castle has become increasingly popular over the years, receiving thousands of visitors annually. Over time, structural integrity of the castle began to weaken, requiring renovations to the original project, which were completed in 1999 and 2004. Rock walls on the planting spaces were improved, aggregate walkways were added, entry areas enlarged, the bridge rails were re-built, and the dam below the bridge was reinforced. Created by Artist Eugene Sargent other improvements include the addition of Ferro-cement benches that resemble flowers and leaves, a flower fountain was fashioned for the pond, and in 2009 the "worm" retaining wall was added.

*Find more pictures searching "Wilson Park, Fayetteville AR 72761", and click photos