Conway is banking on a surge in its visitor economy, fueled by recent and upcoming investments in recreational amenities. The city’s new Conway Soccer Complex, the soon-to-open Community Center, and the burgeoning Meadows Tech Park Trail are strategically positioned to attract tournaments, events, and outdoor enthusiasts, promising a boost to local businesses and Conway’s overall appeal. 

The Conway Soccer Complex, which opened in February at 2100 Museum Road, is already making its presence felt. Its 10 lit fields and central location off Interstate 40, near hotels and restaurants, are a significant upgrade from the city’s former flood-prone complex. Soccer Complex Manager Jeff Turnage anticipates the new facility will draw thousands of visitors for games and tournaments. 

“With the city running the soccer program, it’s going to be very cost effective for kids to get into soccer,” Turnage said. Season program prices range from $30 for 2- and 3-year-olds to $100 for the U9-U19 recreational league. The Conway Soccer Club also offers a competitive league. 

Turnage, a veteran of central Arkansas soccer programs, aims to grow the Conway Soccer Club’s enrollment from nearly 700 players to 1,000 by 2025 with the new complex. He is optimistic about the facility’s potential for community involvement and economic growth. The influx of visiting teams and their families is expected to generate revenue for local hotels, restaurants, and retailers. 

“Visitors are an important part of our overall economy in Conway,” said Visit Conway Executive Director Rachel Shaw. “Thanks to the tax dollars generated from hotels and restaurants, we are able to continue to build new parks, sports facilities and attractions to bring in more visitors, but also for our citizens to enjoy as well.” 

Adding to Conway’s recreational portfolio is the forthcoming Community Center, approved by voters in February 2022. The 133,000-square-foot facility, anticipated to open this summer, will feature an eight-lane competition pool, a community fitness center, an outdoor pool area with a lazy river and water slides, eight volleyball courts, 12 pickleball courts, an indoor track, and community lounges. This diverse range of amenities is expected to attract a broad spectrum of visitors for sporting events, day-travel, and other gatherings. 

Conway’s commitment to outdoor recreation extends to the Meadows Tech Park Trail, a new mountain bike trail in south Conway. The trail has already hosted Arkansas National Interscholastic Cycling Association mountain biking events and is set to welcome several more. Notably, Conway will host the Mid Season Classic on Sept. 20-21, and Champions Weekend on Oct. 25-26. These significant cycling events, along with other races scheduled throughout the fall, are expected to draw participants and spectators, providing a boost to the local economy. 

Collectively, these investments in recreational infrastructure position Conway to capitalize on the growing demand for sports tourism and outdoor activities. By strategically enhancing its recreational offerings, Conway aims to not only improve the quality of life for its residents but also to establish itself as a more compelling destination for visitors, ultimately boosting its local economy. 

“Conway has established its self as a destination for youth sports, not just within Central Arkansas, but state-wide,” Shaw said. “The addition of these new facilities and amenities will help us to maintain that status and add to the list of events we are able to host.”